Project description:Metazoan gamete development into sperm or oocytes requires specific programming cues. Many of these cues function through conserved proteins to regulate gene expression. In C. elegans, two proteins are the terminal regulators of the genetic regulatory network controlling sperm fate: FOG-1, a cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein (CPEB), and FOG-3, a predicted Tob/BTG protein. Loss of either gene causes hermaphrodites or male germ cells to switch from making sperm to making oocytes. Characterized Tob/BTG proteins function as adaptor proteins, linking – in certain contexts – deadenylases to mRNA via CPEB RNA motifs. Through crosslinking and sequencing, we confirmed FOG-3 binds to RNA directly and observed a preference for mRNA 3’UTRs. Our results bring together prior genetics and molecular biology data to propose a new molecular function in germ cell specification with a Tob protein. We discuss the potential for FOG-3 to function as an mRNA packaging protein to inhibit target genes, as well as the potential for the existence of other hidden protein polymers in biology.
Project description:Infertility is a widespread health problem, with rising incidence worldwide. Whether the infertility is caused by genetic or environmental factors, the reason for inability to reproduce can be the too low number of sperm or morphological or functional abnormality of the sperm. Therefore there can be a certain possibility that divergent causes would converge in common mechanisms impairing sperm functionality. A key step in the control of the cell phenotype is the regulation of gene expression. Therefore, the sperm transcriptome can reflect the impairment of proper regulatory networks acting during spermatogenesis and later, during sperm maturation. Also, it can be speculated that some sperm RNAs can influence the fitness of the early embryo, despite the small amount of sperm RNA. Although the changes in transcriptome are not always reflected by similar changes in the proteome, a relative ease of transcriptome interrogation makes it an excellent tool for hypothesis generation about infertility mechanisms and for a search for potential infertility biomarkers.
Project description:The goal of this project was to explore the effect of NH3 and/or H2S effect on the mouse sperm RNA expression and the transgenerational effects. RNA-seq of mouse sperm samples from different groups (NH3 and or H2S treatment) in different generations was done to search for transgenerational effects on RNA expression.
Project description:In the present study, we evaluated the alteration of protein profile of spermatozoa during the different stages of cryopreservation i.e., freshly ejaculated sperm, equilibrated sperm, and cryopreserved sperm in crossbred bulls (Bos taurus * Bos indicus). It was found that the equilibration step of cryopreservation itself caused major changes in the proteome of spermatozoa. Therefore, cryopreservation protocols should be tailored in such a way that it minimize sperm proteome alterations.
Project description:The gole of this project was to explore the effect of NH3 and/or H2S effect on the mouse sperm small RNA expression and the trangerational effects. small RNA sequencing of mouse sperm samples from different groups (NH3 and or H2S treatment) in different generations was done to search for transgenerational effects on RNA expression.
Project description:Nematodes encompass over 24,000 described species, which were discovered in almost every ecological habitat, and make up over 80% of metazoan taxonomic diversity in soils. The last common ancestor of nematodes is believed to date back to around 650–750 million years, generating a large and phylogenetically diverse group to be explored. However, for most species high quality gene annotations are incomprehensive or missing. Combining short-read RNA sequencing with mass spectrometry-based proteomics and machine learning quality control in an approach called proteotranscriptomics, we improve gene annotations for 9 genome-sequenced nematode species and provide new gene annotations for 3 additional species without genome assemblies. Emphasizing the sensitivity of our methodology, we provide evidence for two hitherto undescribed genes in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Extensive phylogenetic systems analysis using this comprehensive proteome annotation provides new insights into evolutionary processes of this metazoan group.
Project description:In this study a comparison was made between the local transcriptional changes at two time points upon root knot (Meloidogyne graminicola) and migratory nematode (Hirschmanniella oryzae) infection in rice. Using mRNA-Seq we have characterized specific and general responses of the root challenged with these endoparastic root nematodes with very different modes of action. Root knot nematodes induce major developmental reprogramming of the root tip, where they force the cortical cells to form multinucleate giant cells, resulting in gall-development. Our results show that root knot nematodes force the plant to produce and transfer nutrients, like sugars and amino acids, to this tissue. Migratory nematodes, on the other hand, induce the expression of proteins involved in plant death and oxidative stress, and obstruct the normal metabolic activity of the root. While migratory nematode infection also causes upregulation of biotic stress-related genes early in the infection, the root knot nematodes seem to actively suppress the local defence of the plant root. This is exemplified by a downregulation of genes involved in the salicylic acid and ethylene pathways. Interestingly, hormone pathways usually involved in plant development, were strongly induced (auxin and gibberellin) or repressed (cytokinin) in the galls. In addition, thousands of novel transcriptionally active regions as well as highly expressed nematode transcripts were detected in the infected root tissues. These results uncover previously unrecognized nematode-specific expression profiles and provide an interesting starting point to study the physiological function of many yet unannotated transcripts potentially targeted by these nematodes.