Preimplantation mouse embryo development involves temporal-spatial specification and segregation of three blastocyst cell lineages: trophectoderm, primitive endoderm and epiblast. Spatial separation of the outer-trophectoderm lineage from the two other inner-cell-mass (ICM) lineages starts with the 8- to 16-cell transition and concludes at the 32-cell stages. Accordingly, the ICM is derived from primary and secondary contributed cells; with debated relative EPI versus PrE potencies. We report generation of primary but not secondary ICM populations is highly dependent on temporal activation of mammalian target of Rapamycin (mTOR) during 8-cell stage M-phase entry, mediated via regulation of the 7-methylguanosine-cap (m7G-cap)-binding initiation complex (EIF4F) and linked to translation of mRNAs containing 5' UTR terminal oligopyrimidine (TOP-) sequence motifs, as knockdown of identified TOP-like motif transcripts impairs generation of primary ICM founders. However, mTOR inhibition-induced ICM cell number deficits in early blastocysts can be compensated by the late blastocyst stage, after inhibitor withdrawal; compensation likely initiated at the 32-cell stage when supernumerary outer cells exhibit molecular characteristics of inner cells. These data identify a novel mechanism specifically governing initial spatial segregation of mouse embryo blastomeres, that is distinct from those directing subsequent inner cell formation, contributing to germane segregation of late blastocyst lineages.

• Klíčová slova
• EIF4EBP1/4EBP1, TOP-motif, cell fate, inner cell mass/ICM and cell positioning, mTOR/mTORC1, preimplantation mouse embryo,
• MeSH
• blastocysta * MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace fyziologie   MeSH
• buněčný rodokmen MeSH
• embryo savčí * MeSH
• mechanistické cílové místo rapamycinového komplexu 1 MeSH
• myši MeSH
• savci MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• mechanistické cílové místo rapamycinového komplexu 1 MeSH

Successful navigation of the mouse preimplantation stages of development, during which three distinct blastocyst lineages are derived, represents a prerequisite for continued development. We previously identified a role for p38-mitogen-activated kinases (p38-MAPK) regulating blastocyst inner cell mass (ICM) cell fate, specifically primitive endoderm (PrE) differentiation, that is intimately linked to rRNA precursor processing, polysome formation and protein translation regulation. Here, we develop this work by assaying the role of DEAD-box RNA helicase 21 (DDX21), a known regulator of rRNA processing, in the context of p38-MAPK regulation of preimplantation mouse embryo development. We show nuclear DDX21 protein is robustly expressed from the 16-cell stage, becoming exclusively nucleolar during blastocyst maturation, a localization dependent on active p38-MAPK. siRNA-mediated clonal Ddx21 knockdown within developing embryos is associated with profound cell-autonomous and non-autonomous proliferation defects and reduced blastocyst volume, by the equivalent peri-implantation blastocyst stage. Moreover, ICM residing Ddx21 knockdown clones express the EPI marker NANOG but rarely express the PrE differentiation marker GATA4. These data contribute further significance to the emerging importance of lineage-specific translation regulation, as identified for p38-MAPK, during mouse preimplantation development.

• Klíčová slova
• DDX21, cell fate specification, p38-MAPK, preimplantation embryo development,
• MeSH
• blastocysta cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace * genetika   MeSH
• buněčný rodokmen genetika   MeSH
• DEAD-box RNA-helikasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• embryonální vývoj * genetika   MeSH
• fluorescenční protilátková technika MeSH
• genový knockdown MeSH
• mitogenem aktivované proteinkinasy p38 metabolismus   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• transport proteinů MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• vývojová regulace genové exprese MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DDX21 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• DEAD-box RNA-helikasy MeSH
• mitogenem aktivované proteinkinasy p38 MeSH

Successful specification of the two mouse blastocyst inner cell mass (ICM) lineages (the primitive endoderm (PrE) and epiblast) is a prerequisite for continued development and requires active fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) signaling. Previously, we identified a role for p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38-MAPKs) during PrE differentiation, but the underlying mechanisms have remained unresolved. Here, we report an early blastocyst window of p38-MAPK activity that is required to regulate ribosome-related gene expression, rRNA precursor processing, polysome formation and protein translation. We show that p38-MAPK inhibition-induced PrE phenotypes can be partially rescued by activating the translational regulator mTOR. However, similar PrE phenotypes associated with extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway inhibition targeting active FGF4 signaling are not affected by mTOR activation. These data indicate a specific role for p38-MAPKs in providing a permissive translational environment during mouse blastocyst PrE differentiation that is distinct from classically reported FGF4-based mechanisms.

• MeSH
• blastocysta fyziologie   MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace MeSH
• buněčný rodokmen MeSH
• DNA vazebné proteiny fyziologie   MeSH
• embryonální vývoj MeSH
• endoderm cytologie   MeSH
• mitogenem aktivované proteinkinasy p38 antagonisté a inhibitory   fyziologie   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• proteiny vázající RNA fyziologie   MeSH
• proteosyntéza * MeSH
• TOR serin-threoninkinasy fyziologie   MeSH
• transkripční faktory fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA vazebné proteiny MeSH
• mitogenem aktivované proteinkinasy p38 MeSH
• mTOR protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• Mybbp1a protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• proteiny vázající RNA MeSH
• TOR serin-threoninkinasy MeSH
• transkripční faktory MeSH

Maternal starvation coincident with preimplantation development has profound consequences for placental-fetal development, with various identified pathologies persisting/manifest in adulthood; the 'Developmental Origin of Health and Disease' (DOHaD) hypothesis/model. Despite evidence describing DOHaD-related incidence, supporting mechanistic and molecular data relating to preimplantation embryos themselves are comparatively meager. We recently identified the classically recognized stress-related p38-mitogen activated kinases (p38-MAPK) as regulating formation of the extraembryonic primitive endoderm (PrE) lineage within mouse blastocyst inner cell mass (ICM). Thus, we wanted to assay if PrE differentiation is sensitive to amino acid availability, in a manner regulated by p38-MAPK. Although blastocysts appropriately mature, without developmental/morphological or cell fate defects, irrespective of amino acid supplementation status, we found the extent of p38-MAPK inhibition induced phenotypes was more severe in the absence of amino acid supplementation. Specifically, both PrE and epiblast (EPI) ICM progenitor populations remained unspecified and there were fewer cells and smaller blastocyst cavities. Such phenotypes could be ameliorated, to resemble those observed in groups supplemented with amino acids, by addition of the anti-oxidant NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine), although PrE differentiation deficits remained. Therefore, p38-MAPK performs a hitherto unrecognized homeostatic early developmental regulatory role (in addition to direct specification of PrE), by buffering blastocyst cell number and ICM cell lineage specification (relating to EPI) in response to amino acid availability, partly by counteracting induced oxidative stress; with clear implications for the DOHaD model.

• Klíčová slova
• cell fate, developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD), mouse blastocyst, oxidative stress, p38-mitogen activated kinases, primitive endoderm,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH