Knockdown of Maternal Homeobox Transcription Factor SEBOX Gene Impaired Early Embryonic Development in Porcine Parthenotes

• Published in: Journal of Reproduction and Development Vol. 59; no. 6; pp. 557 - 562
• Main Authors: ZHENG, Zhong, ZHAO, Ming-Hui, JIA, Jia-Lin, HEO, Young-Tae, CUI, Xiang-Shun, OH, Jeong Su, KIM, Nam-Hyung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan THE SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT 2013; The Society for Reproduction and Development
• Subjects: Abattoirs; Animals; Blastocyst - cytology; Blastocyst - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Cumulus Cells - cytology; Cumulus Cells - metabolism; Ectogenesis; Embryo Culture Techniques; Embryo, Mammalian - cytology; Embryo, Mammalian - metabolism; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Granulosa Cells - cytology; Granulosa Cells - metabolism; Homeobox; Homeodomain Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism; In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques; Maternal Factor; Oocytes - cytology; Oocytes - metabolism; Original; Parthenogenesis; Porcine oocyte; RNA Interference; RNA Stability; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA, Small Interfering; SEBOX; SOXB1 Transcription Factors - genetics; SOXB1 Transcription Factors - metabolism; Sus scrofa; Transcription factor; Up-Regulation
• ISSN: 0916-8818; 1348-4400
• DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2013-050

A number of germ cell-specific transcription factors essential for ovarian formation and folliculogenesis have been identified and studied. However, the role of these factors during early embryonic development has been poorly explored. In the present study, we investigated the role of SEBOX, a maternal homeobox transcription factor, during early embryonic development in porcine parthenotes. mRNA for SEBOX is preferentially expressed in oocytes, and expression persists until embryonic genome activation (EGA). Knockdown of SEBOX by siRNA disrupted early embryonic development, but not oocyte maturation. Many maternal genes essential for early embryonic development were upregulated in SEBOX-depleted embryos. Moreover, some pluripotency-associated genes, including SOX2 and NANOG, were upregulated when SEBOX was knocked down. Therefore, our data demonstrate that SEBOX is required for early embryonic development in pigs and appears to regulate the degradation of maternal transcripts and the expression of pluripotency genes.