Changes in gene expression associated with oocyte meiosis after Obox4 RNAi

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Abstract

Introduction

Oocyte maturation refers to the process that prophase I arrested germinal vesicle (GV) drives the progression of meiosis to metaphase II (MII) to have the capacity for fertilization and embryo development [1]. Spontaneous oocyte maturation in vitro is suppressed when oocytes are cultured with high levels of cAMP maintained by the addition of cAMP analogues or phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, such as 3-isobutyl-1-metyl-xanthine (IBMX), in the culture medium [2,3]. Thus, a high cAMP level in the oocyte is crucial for an environment that maintains the meiotic arrest of oocytes in vitro [2-7]. Active form of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated cAMP action that inhibits the resumption of meiosis also prevents mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation [8-11]. Also, protein kinase C (PKC) has been reported to plays an important role in inducing MAPK, maturation promoting factor (MPF) activation and oocyte maturation [12-15]. However, the role of PKC system in vertebrate oocytes is still not fully identified.

Oocyte specific homeobox (Obox) family proteins may play an important role in follicle development and oogenesis, because their expression pattern is similar to that of growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP15), which are oocyte-specific and play important roles in follicle development and oogenesis [16]. In Obox6 knockout mice, expressions of the Obox1, 2, 3, and 5 genes were increased during early embryo development, suggesting that these family members compensated for the loss of Obox6 expression [17]. In addition, mice lacking the Obox6 gene undergo normal morphological development with normal fertile [17].

In contrast, we found that the expression of the other Obox members such as 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 genes not affected in the Obox4 knocked down oocytes [18]. Obox4 plays significant role in completion of meiosis specifically at meiosis I-meiosis II (MI-MII) transition with normal spindle-chromosome formation. Interestingly, Obox4 RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in the MI-arrest regardless of the presence (77.7%) or absence (72.5%) of IBMX in the culture medium. Therefore, in that previous study, we concluded that Obox4 is a key factor in cAMP-dependent GV-arrest in oocytes [18].

The present study was conducted to determine the molecular mechanism of Obox4 function. We did Obox4 RNAi at GV stage, cultured oocytes 4 hours for knockdown of Obox4, and did microarray analysis. We found the multiple signaling pathways regulated by Obox4 RNAi during oocyte maturation. Among those multiple pathways, the current study was focused on cell cycle and MAPK pathway because we previously found that Obox4 plays a role in spindle- chromosome configuration during MI-MII transition.

Methods

4. mRNA isolation and real-time RT-PCR

Messenger RNA was isolated from oocytes using the Dynabeads mRNA DIRECT kit (Invitrogen Dynal AS, Oslo, Norway), according to the manufacturer's instructions. Complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized from mRNA using oligo (dT) primer, according to the Super Script Preamplification System protocol (Gibco-BRL, Grand Island, NY, USA). Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was performed using the iCycler (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA). The iQ™ SYBR Green Supermix PCR reagents (Bio-Rad) were used for monitoring amplification and results were evaluated with the iCycler iQ real-time detection system software. Quantitation of gene amplification was performed by determining the cycle threshold (C_T), based on the fluorescence detected within the geometric region of the semi-log amplification plot. Expression of each mRNA species was normalized to that of H1foo mRNA. Relative quantitation of target gene expression was evaluated using the comparative C_T method and experiments were repeated at least three times. Real-time PCR reaction conditions and primer sequences for the encoding genes are listed in Table 1.

Table 1

Oligonucleotide primers, sequences, annealing temperatures (AT), and expected sizes of the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) products

Results

To define and compare control and Obox4-deficient oocytes transcriptomes, gene expressions of control and Obox4 RNAi treated oocytes were analyzed with the Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 arrays and GenPlex 3.0 (ISTECH) software. The Affymetrix 430 2.0 mouse microarray was used because it is the most comprehensive array system that allows expression inquiry for over 34,000 well substantiated mouse genes.

A total of 424 genes were significantly changed at least 2-fold in Obox4 deficient oocytes. This analysis revealed that 80 genes were up-regulated and 344 genes were down-regulated by Obox4 RNAi (Figure 1). Top 15 functional Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways changed after Obox4 RNAi were summarized in Table 2. Among 424 genes, 306 genes were not included for this pathway analysis since functions of these genes are still unknown. Many genes were changed in the pathways related with metabolism, MAPK, and chemokine signaling.

Figure 1

Venn diagram showing the number of transcripts up- and down-regulated more than 2-fold in comparisons between control and oocyte specific homeobox (Obox) 4 RNA interference, RNAi treated oocytes. Control group; germinal vesicles (GVs) cultured for 0 hour vs. GVs cultured for 4 hours in 3-isobutyl-1-metyl-xanthine (IBMX) supplemented medium (non-injected), Obox4 RNAi group; GVs cultured for 0 hour vs. GVs cultured for 4 hours in IBMX supplemented medium (Obox4 dsRNA-injected).

Table 2

Top 15 functional groups of genes differentially expressed in oocyte specific homeobox 4 RNAi oocytes

Selected genes in the MAPK signaling pathway are presented in the box with bold characters (Figure 2) and we confirmed their expression by real-time RT-PCR (Figure 3). Four genes (PKC-beta, PKC-delta, PKC-gamma, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 [MEK2]) were down-regulated and only Threonin-protein kinase (Raf1) was up-regulated (Figure 3).

Figure 2

Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway displaying transcripts in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Selected genes are presented with bold characters in a small box and their expression was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction as summarized in Figure 3 [34]. PKC, protein kinase; Raf1, threonin-protein kinase; MEK, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase; Erk, extracellular signal-regulated kinase.

Figure 3

Relative expression of genes related to mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes after oocyte specific homeobox 4 RNA interference. Expression of mRNA was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. The expression levels were calculated cycle threshold values, and then mRNA expression ratio was determined relative to that of control GV oocytes. Experiments were repeated least three times, and data was expressed as mean±SE. PKC, protein kinase; Raf1, threonin-protein kinase; MEK, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase; Erk, extracellular signal-regulated kinase. ^aStatistical significance at p<0.05.

Selected 5 genes in the cell cycle pathway are presented in bold type (Figure 4) and we confirmed their expression by real-time RT-PCR (Figure 5). These genes are related to spindle and chromosome configuration during oocyte maturation, and we selected it based on our previous findings that Obox4 may be involved in the chromosome segregation [18]. Two genes (APC1, PTTG) were down-regulated, while Cdc20 was up-regulated (Figure 5).

Figure 4

Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway display transcripts in cell cycle pathway. Selected genes are presented in bold characters in a small box and their expression was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Rad21 encodes cohesin, esp1 encodes separin, and PTTG encodes securin [35]. Cdc20, cell-division cycle 20; APC1, anaphase-promoting complex; PTTG, pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1; Espl, extra spindle poles-like; Rad21, cohesin.

Figure 5

Relative expression of genes related to cell cycle pathway in germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes after oocyte specific homeobox 4 RNAi. Expression of mRNA was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. The expression levels were calculated cycle threshold values, and then mRNA expression ratio was determined relative to that of control GV oocytes. Experiments were repeated least three times, and data was expressed as mean±SE. Cdc20, cell-division cycle 20; APC1, anaphase- promoting complex; PTTG, pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1; Espl, extra spindle poles-like; Rad21, cohesin. ^aStatistical significance at p<0.05.

Discussion

MAPK plays crucial roles in maturation of oocytes in all animals [19]. Activation of MAPKs requires the dual-specific kinase MEK (MAPKK), which phosphorylates MAPK on critical threonine and tyrosine residues [20-22]. MAPK super-family can be divided in to three major subgroups: extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), c-jun-N-terminal kinase, and p38 as depicted in Figure 2 [23]. The first characterized subfamily of MAP kinase, Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway [24]. Raf proteins have been shown to phosphorylate and activate MAP kinase kinases (MAPKKs) called MEKs (MAPK or ERK kinases) which in turn phosphorylate and activate ERKs (Raf→MAPKK→MEK cascade) [25,26]. This cascade is inhibited by PKA [5].

We observed that PKC affected by Obox4 RNAi among the MAPK signaling pathway in microarray analysis. The PKC is another major kinase for oocyte maturation in MAPK signaling pathway [27-30]. It has been identified that PKC superfamily has at least 12 isoforms [31]. We focused on the expression of conventional (alpha, beta, gamma) and novel (delta) PKC. These isoforms have been reported in human or mouse oocytes [27-30]. Especially, among 4 isoforms of PKC, 3 isoforms were down-regulated and the expression of PKC-gamma was dramatically decreased after Obox4 RNAi. PKC activity suppressed by PKC antagonists have been shown to induce germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in denuded mouse oocytes in a medium contained hypoxanthine [30]. The authors demonstrated that the meiotic inhibitors such as hypoxanthine might activate PKC in the oocytes [30].

The function of each PKC isoform in oocytes is still largely unknown. Relationship between PKC and Obox4 in regulation of GVBD requires further study. The APC complex is composed of at least 11 APC components and APC1 is the largest of these subunits. The APC/C-CDC20 is known to be suppressed in the metaphase arrest by the spindle assembly checkpoint [32]. CDC20 accumulates during the GV stage but does not activate APC until the resumption of GVBD, because the phosphorylation of APC subunits by the MPF is required for the binding of CDC20 to APC [33]. The APC/C-CDC20 mediated degradation of securin and the degradation of securin activate separase [32]. Separase then cleaves the cohesion, allowing chromosome segregation [32].

We suggest that up-regulation of Cdc20 (Figure 5) may be involved in inducing the meiotic resumption in the Obox4-deficient oocytes in the IBMX medium. In addition, deficiency of spindle formation and aberrant chromosome configuration may be affected by abnormal expression of PTTG, of which protein product is securin.

Taken together, we suggest that Obox4 is important upstream regulator of the PKC and APC action for maintaining intact GV. Further elucidation of the molecular mechanism of the Obox4 would lead us to understand how to maintain the GV arrest.

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