转录组揭示马卵母细胞体外成熟的重要候选基因

Transcriptome reveals key genes for in vitro maturation of donkey oocytes

本研究以马GV和体外成熟的MII期卵母细胞为研究样本,进行转录组测序,旨在筛选影响马卵母细胞成熟的关键候选基因。结果表明,马卵母细胞体外成熟率为37.18%;马GV和体外成熟的MII卵母细胞具有不同的mRNA谱,其中9969个mRNA差异显著,进一步的GO和KEGG分析发现,差异表达基因(DEGs)参与了多种可能与卵母细胞减数分裂相关的生物学和信号通路。本研究提供了马卵母细胞体外成熟前后转录组的详细信息,为后续探究关键差异基因对卵母细胞成熟的影响及提高卵母细胞成熟的可行性提供理论依据。

In this study,we explore the gene expression patterns of horse germinal vesicle(GV)and in vitro matured metaphase II(MII)oocytes using single cell RNA-seq to find the candidate genes along with the regulatory mechanisms that affect donkey oocyte maturation.Our results revealed that the in vitro maturation rate of horse oocytes was 37.18%;GV and MII oocytes have distinct RNA profiles,and,in total,9,969 genes were differentially expressed.Further GO and KEGG analysis found that the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)and specific expression genes(SEGs)participated in multiple biological and signal pathways potentially associated with oocyte meiosis.We focused on the genes about the carbohydrate metabolic patterns during oocytes maturation,and found the energy metabolism-related transcriptomes of oocytes arrested in the MII stage is greatly reduced.In conclusion,this study provides detailed information on the transcriptome of horse oocytes before and after IVM in vitro maturation,and provides a theoretical basis for the subsequent exploration of the impact of key differential genes on oocyte maturation and the feasibility of improving oocyte maturation.