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Oocyte piRNAs mediate intergenerational transmission of an acquired metabolic disorder (small RNA sequencing)

ABSTRACT: Traditional research has focused on DNA as the molecule that carries heritable information from the parent to the offspring. However, increasing evidence suggests that information beyond the DNA sequence, termed epigenetic information, can also transmit certain information from one generation to the next. Whereas paternal epigenetic germline inheritance has been well elucidated, as the father contributes little more than a sperm cell to the offspring, maternal epigenetic inheritance via gametes remains largely unclear. Here, using an in vitro fertilization system and a micromanipulation strategy, we demonstrate that oocyte piRNAs mediate intergenerational transmission of an acquired metabolic disorder. Changes in the expression profiles of many oocyte piRNAs are observed in a maternal chronic high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model. Injection of the oocyte piRNAs from HFD females into normal zygotes resulted in impaired glucose tolerance and decreased insulin sensitivity in the F1 offspring. A series of genes involved in glucose metabolism and the insulin signaling pathway were differentially expressed in the pancreatic islets of the F1 offspring. Bisulfite genome sequencing of the islets of the F1 offspring revealed changes in cytosine methylation that correlated with the observed gene expression patterns. These data identified oocyte piRNAs as novel carriers of epigenetic information and highlight the importance of long-term maternal health before conception.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE174504 | GEO | 2021/05/17

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:RNA-seq transcriptome analysis of C. elegans germlines that inherited only paternal chromosomes (non-Mendelian inheritance, 'red-head worms') and the germlines of their offspring ('offspring of red-head worms') vs. germlines that inherited both maternal and paternal chromosomes (Mendelian inheritance, HBR1280 control). Given that epigenetic marking of sperm chromosomes is faithfully transmitted through embryo cell divisions, and that sperm epigenetic marking is important in offspring, we tested if sperm epigenetic marking alone is sufficient for proper development of the germline in offspring. We utilized a mutant that, during the first embryonic division, delivers the sperm genome to the daughter cell that generates the germline and the oocyte genome to the other daughter cell (Besseling & Bringmann, 2016). This mutant over-expresses GPR-1, a protein involved in regulation of kinetochore pulling forces. GPR-1 over-expression results in excessive pulling forces, causing the paternal and maternal pronuclei to inappropriately move to opposite poles of the 1-cell embryo instead of merging in the center of the embryo. In this mutant background, ~60% of offspring undergo atypical chromosome segregation, generating mosaic embryos whose germlines are derived entirely from sperm chromosomes (Besseling & Bringmann, 2016). To track the parental genomes, differentially tagged histone transgenes were used: a GFP-tagged histone H2B encoded in the sperm genome, and a TdTomato-tagged histone H2B encoded in the oocyte genome. The mosaic embryos whose germline inherited only sperm chromosomes (‘red-head' worms) develop into fertile adults with a normal brood size, similar to control worms, in which the germline inherited both sperm and oocyte chromosomes. RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that the germline transcriptome of ‘red-head’ worms and their offspring show few (<80 genes) and minor changes compared to control worms. These findings demonstrate that epigenetic information provided by sperm can guide proper germ cell development.

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Oocyte piRNAs mediate intergenerational transmission of an acquired metabolic disorder (small RNA sequencing)

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