The oocyte has the remarkable property of directing the embryo development through accumulation of maternal mRNAs. In the absence of transcription, all the critical events associated with fertilization, reprogramming of the male and female pronucleus, and initial rounds of replication are regulated by a program of mRNA translation. Using a genome wide approach of polysome fractionation and microarray analysis, we have generated a blueprint of the pattern of translation at the oocyte/zygote transition. By mining these data sets as well as published data, it is emerging that the oocyte synthesizes the machinery utilized in the zygote early during oocyte maturation. Among the highly regulated transcripts are those coding for RNA binding proteins Dazl and Pumilio2, critical for germ line development and maintenance of pluripotency in invertebrates. The hypothesis tested is that these RNA regulators play a critical function during early embryo development and, as an extension, in the pluripotent state of the embryonic stem cells.
Three Specific Aims are proposed to test this hypothesis.
With Specific Aim 1, we propose to characterize the mechanism regulating translation at the oocyte to zygote transition, including the Dazl and Pumilio2.
In Specific Aim 2 the function of Dazl and Pumilio2 during the early stages of embryo development will be investigated by conditional ablation of these genes or by disrupting their translation by morpholino oligonucleotide injection. The mechanisms of action of these RNA binding proteins will be investigated by defining their targets. Experiments described in Specific Aim 3 will test the hypothesis that translation mediated by these RNA binding proteins is shared by the embryo and by embryonic stem cells. The phenotype of ES cells deficient in these RNA regulators and the network of mRNA targets will be investigated. This project is significant because it will uncover regulations that are of broad application to different developmental systems. Understanding the regulatory processes of preimplantation embryonic development will reveal new paradigms in epigenetic regulation and reprogramming that will improve current strategies of induction of pluripotent stem cells from somatic cells.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed research is relevant to improving human health and the mission of NIH because it provides a better insight into the mechanisms of embryo development and, therefore, it will improve diagnosis and cure of genetic diseases. It will also provide new tools be manipulated biochemical machineries essential to direct cell differentiation for tissue regeneration.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM097165-04
Application #
8690104
Study Section
Cellular, Molecular and Integrative Reproduction Study Section (CMIR)
Program Officer
Haynes, Susan R
Project Start
2011-09-15
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2014-07-01
Budget End
2015-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143
Conti, Marco; Franciosi, Federica (2018) Acquisition of oocyte competence to develop as an embryo: integrated nuclear and cytoplasmic events. Hum Reprod Update 24:245-266
Martins, Joao P Sousa; Conti, Marco (2018) Profiling Maternal mRNA Translation During Oocyte Development. Methods Mol Biol 1818:43-50
Han, Seung Jin; Martins, João Pedro Sousa; Yang, Ye et al. (2017) The Translation of Cyclin B1 and B2 is Differentially Regulated during Mouse Oocyte Reentry into the Meiotic Cell Cycle. Sci Rep 7:14077
Yang, Ye; Yang, Cai-Rong; Han, Seung Jin et al. (2017) Maternal mRNAs with distinct 3' UTRs define the temporal pattern of Ccnb1 synthesis during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation. Genes Dev 31:1302-1307
Sousa Martins, Joao P; Liu, Xueqing; Oke, Ashwini et al. (2016) DAZL and CPEB1 regulate mRNA translation synergistically during oocyte maturation. J Cell Sci 129:1271-82
Lin, Chih-Jen; Koh, Fong Ming; Wong, Priscilla et al. (2014) Hira-mediated H3.3 incorporation is required for DNA replication and ribosomal RNA transcription in the mouse zygote. Dev Cell 30:268-79
Chen, Jing; Torcia, Simona; Xie, Fang et al. (2013) Somatic cells regulate maternal mRNA translation and developmental competence of mouse oocytes. Nat Cell Biol 15:1415-23
Conti, Marco; Hsieh, Minnie; Zamah, A Musa et al. (2012) Novel signaling mechanisms in the ovary during oocyte maturation and ovulation. Mol Cell Endocrinol 356:65-73