Histone demethylation and nuclear trafficking during porcine embryo development
Abstract
Gene expression is precisely regulated during porcine embryogenesis. One way to activate or inactivate gene expression is to change its epigenetic modifications through chromatin-remodeling complexes, histone demethylase and histone methyltransferases. Another way to regulate gene expression is to change the expression level of specific Karyopherin α (KPNA). The first aim of the study was to identify the expression pattern of H3K27 demethylases, JMJD3 and UTX in GV-stage porcine oocytes, and 4-cell and blastocyst stage porcine embryos. We found that the expression patterns of JMJD3 and UTX are not identical, indicating that these proteins may serve different role during early porcine embryonic development. The second aim of the experiment was to find nuclear localization signal (NLS) regions in the histone methyltransferase G9a and the chromatin remodeling protein Brg1, and their binding preference towards different KPNA members. G9a has one NLS, which functioned in vivo. Brg1 has three NLS, one of which was showed function in vivo. The third aim of the study was to determine the developmental requirements of Karyopherin α3 (KPNA3) during porcine embryonic development. Reducing KPNA3 transcripts did not show a significant effect on porcine embryonic developmental competence. Overall these results indicate that histone methyltransferases and nuclear trafficking may play distinct roles during porcine embryo development.
Degree
M.S.
Advisors
Cabot, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Agriculture|Animal sciences
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