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Life (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Commencing with sperm-egg fusion, the early stages of metazoan development include the cleavage and formation of blastula and gastrula. These early embryonic events play...
Commencing with sperm-egg fusion, the early stages of metazoan development include the cleavage and formation of blastula and gastrula. These early embryonic events play a crucial role in ontogeny and are accompanied by a dramatic remodeling of the gene network, particularly encompassing the maternal-to-zygotic transition. Nonetheless, the gene expression dynamics governing early embryogenesis remain unclear in most metazoan lineages. We conducted transcriptomic profiling on two types of gametes (oocytes and sperms) and early embryos (ranging from the four-cell to the gastrula stage) of an economically valuable flatfish-the Chinese tongue sole (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae). Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that large-scale zygotic genome activation (ZGA) occurs in the blastula stage, aligning with previous findings in zebrafish. Through the comparison of the most abundant transcripts identified in each sample and the functional analysis of co-expression modules, we unveiled distinct functional enrichments across different gametes/developmental stages: actin- and immune-related functions in sperms; mitosis, transcription inhibition, and mitochondrial function in oocytes and in pre-ZGA embryos (four- to 1000-cell stage); and organ development in post-ZGA embryos (blastula and gastrula). These results provide insights into the intricate transcriptional regulation of early embryonic development in Cynoglossidae fish and expand our knowledge of developmental constraints in vertebrates.
PubMed: 38672775
DOI: 10.3390/life14040505 -
Biology Apr 2024Marine animals possess genomes of considerable complexity and heterozygosity. Their unique reproductive system, characterized by high fecundity and substantial early...
Marine animals possess genomes of considerable complexity and heterozygosity. Their unique reproductive system, characterized by high fecundity and substantial early mortality rates, increases the risk of inbreeding, potentially leading to severe inbreeding depression during various larval developmental stages. In this study, we established a set of inbred families of , with an inbreeding coefficient of 0.25, and investigated elimination patterns and the manifestations of inbreeding depression during major larval developmental stages. Reduced-representation genome sequencing was utilized to explore the genotype frequency characteristics across two typical elimination stages. The results revealed notable mortality in hatching and metamorphosis into mysis and post-larvae stages. Inbreeding depression was also evident during these developmental stages, with depression rates of 24.36%, 29.23%, and 45.28%. Segregation analysis of SNPs indicated an important role of gametic selection before hatching, accounting for 45.95% of deviation in the zoea stage. During the zygotic selection phase of larval development, homozygote deficiency and heterozygote excess were the main selection types. Summation of the two types explained 82.31% and 89.91% of zygotic selection in the mysis and post-larvae stage, respectively. The overall distortion ratio decreased from 22.37% to 12.86% in the late developmental stage. A total of 783 loci were identified through selective sweep analysis. We also found the types of distortion at the same locus could change after the post-larvae stage. The predominant shifts included a transition of gametic selection toward normal segregation and other forms of distortion to heterozygous excess. This may be attributed to high-intensity selection on deleterious alleles and genetic hitchhiking effects. Following larval elimination, a greater proportion of heterozygous individuals were preserved. We detected an increase in genetic diversity parameters such as expected heterozygosity, observed heterozygosity, and polymorphic information content in the post-larvae stage. These findings suggest the presence of numerous recessive deleterious alleles and their linkage and suggest a major role of the partial dominance hypothesis. The results provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of inbreeding depression in marine animals and offer guidance for formulating breeding strategies in shrimp populations.
PubMed: 38666880
DOI: 10.3390/biology13040268 -
Successful preimplantation genetic testing for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: a case report.Journal of Medical Case Reports Apr 2024Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare autosomal dominant condition that leads to significant disability and morbidity, characterised by the formation of...
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare autosomal dominant condition that leads to significant disability and morbidity, characterised by the formation of heterotopic hard tissues within connective tissues. The condition has an incidence of approximately one per two million people worldwide. There is no known single effective treatment available for FOP. We report the world's first case of a healthy infant born following in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorder (PGT-M) using Karyomapping for FOP.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 30-year-old Caucasian female with FOP presented with her partner seeking IVF with PGT-M to achieve a healthy pregnancy with an embryo unaffected by FOP.
METHODS
The couple underwent IVF and PGT-M using Karyomapping as the testing method. A multi-disciplinary team approach was utilised in planning this case, considering the additional risks of oocyte retrieval, pregnancy and childbirth in women with FOP.
MAIN FINDINGS
The oocyte retrieval was covered with a 5-day course of prednisolone to reduce the risk of a localised inflammatory reaction, which could result in subsequent heterotopic ossification. This was subsequently weaned down with reducing doses every two days. The patient underwent uncomplicated oocyte retrieval, yielding 12 mature oocytes. Following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), ten zygotes having two pro-nuclei were cultured, and six underwent trophoectoderm biopsy and vitrification 5-6 days after retrieval. PGT-M via Karyomapping revealed four out of six (66.7%) of blastocysts were not carriers of the maternal high-risk FOP allele. In total, the patient had three separate embryo transfers. Pregnancy was achieved following the third frozen embryo transfer, which went to 37 weeks' gestation, and delivered by Caesarean section. The baby was born in excellent condition and is unaffected by FOP.
CONCLUSION
IVF/ICSI and PGT-M using Karyomapping was successfully implemented to identify embryos carrying the high-risk FOP allele resulting in a healthy livebirth.
Topics: Humans; Female; Myositis Ossificans; Preimplantation Diagnosis; Adult; Pregnancy; Fertilization in Vitro; Genetic Testing; Oocyte Retrieval; Infant, Newborn; Prednisolone; Karyotyping
PubMed: 38664849
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-024-04504-4 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024is a monotypic species of rare and tertiary relic trees mainly distributed in China. is a potentially valuable horticultural plant, which has significant ornamental...
is a monotypic species of rare and tertiary relic trees mainly distributed in China. is a potentially valuable horticultural plant, which has significant ornamental and research value, and is a crucial tool for the study of phylogeography. The artificial cultivation of is of great scientific value and practical significance. In this study, we developed a direct organogenesis process of using mature zygotic embryos as initial materials. The highest sterile germination induction (54.5%) from the mature zygotic embryo was obtained in a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 2.0 mg·L 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 0.2 mg·L α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The highest percentage of shoot regeneration (90.37%) was attained using 1.0 mg·L 6-BA and 0.01 mg·L NAA in the MS medium. The Woody Plant Medium (WPM) had the greatest adventitious shoot elongation rate of 93.33%. The most optimized rooting rate was 88.89% in a half-strength MS medium containing 2.0 mg·L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 1.0 mg·L NAA. The genetic fidelity of regenerated plantlets was assessed using inter-simple sequence repeats and random amplified polymorphic DNA molecular markers, confirming the genetic uniformity and stability of regenerated plantlets. Our research presents an effective propagation system for , laying the groundwork for its germplasm conservation and large-scale production while maintaining high genetic integrity.
PubMed: 38660444
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1259925 -
EMBO Reports May 2024Transcription control is a major determinant of cell fate decisions in somatic tissues. By contrast, early germline fate specification in numerous vertebrate and...
Transcription control is a major determinant of cell fate decisions in somatic tissues. By contrast, early germline fate specification in numerous vertebrate and invertebrate species relies extensively on RNA-level regulation, exerted on asymmetrically inherited maternal supplies, with little-to-no zygotic transcription. However delayed, a maternal-to-zygotic transition is nevertheless poised to complete the deployment of pre-gametic programs in the germline. Here, we focus on early germline specification in the tunicate Ciona to study zygotic genome activation. We first demonstrate that a peculiar cellular remodeling event excludes localized postplasmic Pem-1 mRNA, which encodes the general inhibitor of transcription. Subsequently, zygotic transcription begins in Pem-1-negative primordial germ cells (PGCs), as revealed by histochemical detection of elongating RNA Polymerase II, and nascent Mef2 transcripts. In addition, we uncover a provisional antagonism between JAK and MEK/BMPRI/GSK3 signaling, which controls the onset of zygotic gene expression, following cellular remodeling of PGCs. We propose a 2-step model for the onset of zygotic transcription in the Ciona germline and discuss the significance of germ plasm dislocation and remodeling in the context of developmental fate specification.
Topics: Animals; Zygote; Germ Cells; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Janus Kinases; Signal Transduction; Ciona; Ciona intestinalis; Transcription, Genetic
PubMed: 38649664
DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00139-0 -
Journal of Radiation Research May 2024Ionizing radiation (IR) causes DNA damage, particularly DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which have significant implications for genome stability. The major pathways of...
Ionizing radiation (IR) causes DNA damage, particularly DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which have significant implications for genome stability. The major pathways of repairing DSBs are homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). However, the repair mechanism of IR-induced DSBs in embryos is not well understood, despite extensive research in somatic cells. The externally developing aquatic organism, Xenopus tropicalis, serves as a valuable model for studying embryo development. A significant increase in zygotic transcription occurs at the midblastula transition (MBT), resulting in a longer cell cycle and asynchronous cell divisions. This study examines the impact of X-ray irradiation on Xenopus embryos before and after the MBT. The findings reveal a heightened X-ray sensitivity in embryos prior to the MBT, indicating a distinct shift in the DNA repair pathway during embryo development. Importantly, we show a transition in the dominant DSB repair pathway from NHEJ to HR before and after the MBT. These results suggest that the MBT plays a crucial role in altering DSB repair mechanisms, thereby influencing the IR sensitivity of developing embryos.
Topics: Animals; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; DNA Repair; Blastula; Xenopus; DNA End-Joining Repair; Embryo, Nonmammalian; X-Rays
PubMed: 38648785
DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrae012 -
The Journal of Reproduction and... Jun 2024In somatic cells, DNA repair is attenuated during mitosis to prevent the formation of anaphase bridges and facilitate the proper segregation of sister chromatids....
In somatic cells, DNA repair is attenuated during mitosis to prevent the formation of anaphase bridges and facilitate the proper segregation of sister chromatids. Irradiation-induced γH2AX foci persist for hours in M phase somatic cells. However, we observed that anaphase bridges formed in a significant fraction of mouse zygotes irradiated during mitosis. Additionally, γH2AX signals in M phase zygotes peaked 30 min after irradiation and subsequently reduced with a half-life within 1-2 h. These results suggest that the DNA repair system may operate efficiently in M phase zygotes following irradiation, leading to the frequent formation of anaphase bridges. The absence of H2AX promoted the successful segregation of sister chromatids and enhanced the development of embryos to the blastocyst stage. The DNA repair system may be differentially regulated during the M phase of the first cell cycle to ensure the immediate elimination of damaged zygotes, thereby efficiently preventing transmission of mutations to subsequent generations.
Topics: Animals; Zygote; Mice; DNA Repair; Histones; Female; Mitosis; Embryonic Development; Anaphase; Chromatids; Blastocyst
PubMed: 38644217
DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2024-018 -
The CRISPR Journal Apr 2024Integration of a point mutation to correct or edit a gene requires the repair of the CRISPR-Cas9-induced double-strand break by homology-directed repair (HDR). This...
Integration of a point mutation to correct or edit a gene requires the repair of the CRISPR-Cas9-induced double-strand break by homology-directed repair (HDR). This repair pathway is more active in late S and G2 phases of the cell cycle, whereas the competing pathway of nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) operates throughout the cell cycle. Accordingly, modulation of the cell cycle by chemical perturbation or simply by the timing of gene editing to shift the editing toward the S/G2 phase has been shown to increase HDR rates. Using a traffic light reporter in mouse embryonic stem cells and a fluorescence conversion reporter in human-induced pluripotent stem cells, we confirm that a transient cold shock leads to an increase in the rate of HDR, with a corresponding decrease in the rate of NHEJ repair. We then investigated whether a similar cold shock could lead to an increase in the rate of HDR in the mouse embryo. By analyzing the efficiency of gene editing using single nucleotide polymorphism changes and loxP insertion at three different genetic loci, we found that a transient reduction in temperature after zygote electroporation of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein with a single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide repair template did indeed increase knockin efficiency, without affecting embryonic development. The efficiency of gene editing with and without the cold shock was first assessed by genotyping blastocysts. As a proof of concept, we then confirmed that the modified embryo culture conditions were compatible with live births by targeting the coat color gene tyrosinase and observing the repair of the albino mutation. Taken together, our data suggest that a transient cold shock could offer a simple and robust way to improve knockin outcomes in both stem cells and zygotes.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Gene Editing; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Zygote; Hypothermia; Recombinational DNA Repair
PubMed: 38635329
DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2023.0077 -
STAR Protocols Jun 2024Precise integration of DNA constructs greater than 3 kb into mouse zygotes is difficult. Here, we present a protocol for large DNA transgenesis in mice using the...
Precise integration of DNA constructs greater than 3 kb into mouse zygotes is difficult. Here, we present a protocol for large DNA transgenesis in mice using the Cas9+Bxb1 toolbox. We describe steps for choosing mouse strains with preplaced attachment sites. We then detail procedures for microinjecting mouse zygotes with the plasmid donor DNA construct to generate transgenic mice by recombination-mediated cassette exchange. This protocol has the potential for application in exploring the functional implications of large structural variations in cancer. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Low et al. and Hosur et al..
Topics: Animals; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Gene Transfer Techniques; DNA; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Zygote; Microinjections; Plasmids; Female
PubMed: 38625797
DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103022 -
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England) Jun 2024How do transcriptomics vary in haploid human androgenote embryos at single cell level in the first four cell cycles of embryo development?
STUDY QUESTION
How do transcriptomics vary in haploid human androgenote embryos at single cell level in the first four cell cycles of embryo development?
SUMMARY ANSWER
Gene expression peaks at the fourth cell cycle, however some androcytes exhibit unique transcriptional behaviors.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
The developmental potential of an embryo is determined by the competence of the oocyte and the sperm. However, studies of the contribution of the paternal genome using pure haploid androgenotes are very scarce.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION
This study was performed analyzing the single-cell transcriptomic sequencing of 38 androcytes obtained from 10 androgenote bioconstructs previously produced in vitro (de Castro et al., 2023). These results were analyzed through different bioinformatics software such as g: Profiler, GSEA, Cytoscape, and Reactome.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
Single cell sequencing was used to obtain the transcriptomic profiles of the different androcytes. The results obtained were compared between the different cycles studied using the DESeq2 program and functional enrichment pathways using g: Profiler, Cytoscape, and Reactome.
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
A wave of paternally driven transcriptomic activation was found during the third-cell cycle, with 1128 upregulated and 225 downregulated genes and the fourth-cell cycle, with 1373 upregulated and 286 downregulated genes, compared to first-cell cycle androcytes. Differentially expressed routes related to cell differentiation, DNA-binding transcription, RNA biosynthesis and RNA polymerase II transcription regulatory complex, and cell death were found in the third and fourth with respect to the first-cell cycle. Conversely, in the fourth cell cycle, 153 downregulated and 332 upregulated genes were found compared with third cell cycle, associated with differentially expressed processes related to E-box binding and zinc finger protein 652 (ZNF652) transcription factor. Further, significant overexpression of LEUTX, PRAMEF1, DUXA, RFPL4A, TRIM43, and ZNF675 found in androgenotes, compared to biparental embryos, highlights the paternal contributions to zygote genome activation.
LARGE SCALE DATA
All raw sequencing data are available through the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) under accessions number: GSE216501.
LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
Extrapolation of biological events from uniparental constructs to biparental embryos should be done with caution. Maternal and paternal genomes do not act independently of each other in a natural condition. The absence of one genome may affect gene transcription of the other. In this sense, the haploid condition of the bioconstructs could mask the transcriptomic patterns of the single cells.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
The results obtained demonstrated the level of involvement of the human paternal haploid genome in the early stages of embryo development as well as its evolution at the transcriptomic level, laying the groundwork for the use of these bioconstructs as reliable models to dispel doubts about the genetic role played by the paternal genome in the early cycles of embryo development.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)
This study was funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) through the project 'PI22/00924', co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); 'A way to make Europe'. F.D. was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Miguel Servet program (CPII018/00002). M.J.E. was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI19/00577 [M.J.E.]) and FI20/00086. P.dC. was supported by a predoctoral grant for training in research into health (PFIS PI19/00577) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. All authors declare having no conflict of interest with regard to this trial.
Topics: Humans; Single-Cell Analysis; Embryonic Development; Male; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Transcriptome; Female; Gene Expression Profiling; Haploidy; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 38622061
DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deae072