INRA, UR 1037 Laboratoire de Physiologie et Génomique des Poissons (LPGP), Rennes, France.
Biol Reprod. 2013 May 23;88(5):128. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.105361. Print 2013 May.
Oogenesis is a complex process requiring the coordinated sequential expression of specific genes and ultimately leading to the release of the female gamete from the ovary. In the present study we aimed to investigate the contribution of miRNAs to the regulation of this key biological process in teleosts using a model in which growing oocytes develop simultaneously. Taking advantage of the strong sequence conservation of miRNAs among phylogenetically distant species, we designed a generic microarray displaying most known chordate miRNAs. It allowed us to provide an overview of the ovarian miRNome during oogenesis for the first time in any vertebrate species. We identified 13 differentially expressed miRNAs, and a differential expression of at least one miRNA was observed at each step of oogenesis. A surprisingly high differential expression of several miRNAs was observed at several stages of oogenesis and subsequently confirmed using quantitative PCR. By refining in silico prediction of target genes with gene expression data obtained within the same sample set, we provide strong evidence that miRNAs target major players of oogenesis, including genes involved in rate-limiting steps of steroidogenesis and those involved in gonadotropic control of oocyte development, as well as genes involved in ovulation, oocyte hydration, and acquisition of the ability of the oocyte to support further development once fertilized (i.e., oocyte developmental competence). Together, these observations stress the importance of miRNAs in the regulation and success of female gamete formation during oogenesis.
卵子发生是一个复杂的过程,需要特定基因的协调顺序表达,最终导致雌性配子从卵巢中释放出来。在本研究中,我们旨在利用一种同时发育的生长卵母细胞的模型,研究 miRNA 对硬骨鱼类这一关键生物学过程的调控作用。利用 miRNA 在进化上相距较远的物种之间具有很强的序列保守性,我们设计了一个通用的微阵列,显示了大多数已知的脊索动物 miRNA。它使我们能够首次在任何脊椎动物物种中提供卵子发生过程中卵巢 miRNA 组的概述。我们鉴定了 13 个差异表达的 miRNA,并且在卵子发生的每个步骤中都观察到至少一个 miRNA 的差异表达。令人惊讶的是,在卵子发生的几个阶段观察到了几个 miRNA 的高度差异表达,并随后使用定量 PCR 进行了验证。通过使用同一样本集中获得的基因表达数据对靶基因的计算机预测进行细化,我们提供了强有力的证据表明 miRNA 靶向卵子发生的主要参与者,包括参与类固醇生成限速步骤的基因以及参与卵母细胞发育的促性腺激素控制的基因,以及参与排卵、卵母细胞水合和获得受精后支持进一步发育的能力(即卵母细胞发育能力)的基因。总之,这些观察结果强调了 miRNA 在卵子发生过程中对雌性配子形成的调控和成功的重要性。