ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH Maternal gene Ooep may participate in homologous recombination-mediated DNA double-strand break repair in mouse oocytes Da-JianHe1,3,#,LinWang1,#,Zhi-BiZhang2,#,KunGuo1,Jing-ZhengLi1,Xie-ChaoHe1,Qing-HuaCui2,*,PingZheng1,* 1YunnanKeyLaboratoryofAnimalReproduction,KunmingInstituteofZoology,ChineseAcademyofSciences,KunmingYunnan650223, China 2LaboratoryofBiochemistryandMolecularBiology,SchoolofLifeSciences,YunnanUniversity,KunmingYunnan650091,China 3KunmingCollegeofLifeScience,UniversityofChineseAcademyofSciences,KunmingYunnan650204,China ABSTRACT and can substantially impair genomic integrity and cell DNAdamageinoocytescancauseinfertilityandbirth viability. Two major pathways are involved in DNA DSB repair, non-homologousendjoining(NHEJ)-andhomologous defects. DNAdouble-strandbreaks(DSBs)arehighly recombination (HR)-mediated repair. In oocytes, defection deleterious and can substantially impair genome of the error-free HR pathway can cause a decline in oocyte integrity. Homologousrecombination(HR)-mediated quantity and quality in natural and pathological reproductive DNADSBrepairplaysdominantrolesinsafeguarding aging in both mice and humans (Day et al., 2015; Perry et oocyte quantity and quality. However, little is known al., 2013; Titus et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2014). Therefore, HR-based DNA DSB repair in oocytes plays a key role in regarding the key players of the HR repair pathway regulating female reproductive performance. This repair has in oocytes. Here, we identified oocyte-specific gene been intensively studied in somatic cells, with many players Ooep as a novel key component of the HR repair identified(Adamsonetal.,2012);however,littleinformationis pathway in mouse oocytes. OOEP was required for availableregardingthecomponentsoftheHRrepairpathway efficient ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase inoocytes. Identifyingessentialparticipantswillshedlighton activation and Rad51 recombinase (RAD51) focal understandingoocyteandovarianaging. Oocyte-expressed protein (Ooep) is an oocyte-specific accumulation at DNA DSBs. Ooep null oocytes were maternal-effect gene. The OOEP protein localizes at the defective in DNA DSB repair and prone to apoptosis subcortical region of an oocyte and interacts with four other uponexogenousDNAdamageinsults. Moreover,Ooep maternalproteins,includingMATER,FILIA,PADI6,andTLE6, null oocytes exhibited delayed meiotic maturation. toformasubcorticalmaternalcomplex(SCMC)inmouseand Therefore, OOEP played roles in preserving oocyte humanoocytes(Lietal.,2008;Zhuetal.,2015). Depletionof quantity and quality by maintaining genome stability. OOEP or its interaction proteins can lead to embryo arrest at the2-cellstagewithuncharacterizedmolecularmechanismsin Ooep expression decreased with the advance of maternalage,suggestingitsinvolvementinmaternal aging. Received: 02March2018;Accepted: 09April2018;Online: 15June Keywords: Ooep;Homologousrecombination;DNA 2018 double-strandbreakrepair;ATM;RAD51 Foundation items: This work was supported by the National Key INTRODUCTION ResearchandDevelopmentProgramofChina(2017YFC1001102)and NationalNaturalScienceFoundationofChina(81760507) During the long period of meiotic arrest, oocytes are #Authorscontributedequallytothiswork exposed to endogenous and exogenous genotoxic insults and tend to accumulate DNA damage. DNA damage can *Corresponding authors, E-mail: [email protected]; Cuiqing occur as single-stranded breaks (SSBs) or double-strand [email protected] breaks (DSBs), the latter of which are highly deleterious DOI:10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2018.067 SciencePress ZoologicalResearch39(6):387–395,2018 387 mice (Li et al., 2008; Tong et al., 2000; Yu et al., 2014; conditions. All experimental procedures and animal care Yurttas et al., 2008; Zheng & Dean, 2009). We recently were performed according to the protocols approved by the utilizedmouseembryonicstemcellsasamodeltoexplorethe EthicsCommitteeoftheKunmingInstituteofZoology,Chinese functionofFILIAanduncovereditscriticalrolesinsafeguarding AcademyofSciences. the genomic stability of pluripotent stem cells (Zhao et al., 2015). This finding prompted our hypothesis that OOEP may DNAdamagetreatmentofoocytesandovaries beinvolvedinregulatinggenomestabilityinoocytes. Thus,in Germinalvesicle(GV)-stageoocyteswereculturedaccording thisstudy,wecarefullyexaminedthefunctionofOOEPinDNA to standard procedures (Marangos & Carroll, 2012). Ovaries DSBrepairinoocytes. werecollectedfromnewbornmiceatpostnatalday5(P5)and culturedaccordingtostandardprotocols(Gonflonietal.,2009). MATERIALSANDMETHODS Animals Antibodies The mouse line with targeted mutation of Ooep (background Rabbit anti-OOEP serum was raised against the 1–19 amino C57BL/B6×Sv129) was kindly provided by Dr. Jurrien Dean acids of the OOEP protein (Li et al., 2008), and antibody from the National Institutes of Health, USA. These Ooeptm/tm specificity was verified by utilizing Ooep null oocytes. Other female mice do not express the OOEP protein in oocytes (Li primaryandsecondaryantibodieswereobtainedcommercially, et al., 2008). Mice were maintained in specific pathogen-free withrelevantinformationshowninTable1. Table1Informationonprimaryandsecondaryantibodiesforimmunofluorescencestaining(IF)andimmunoblotting(IB) Antibody Company Host Catalognumber Dilution Primary 1:200(IF) γ-H2AX Cellsignaling,USA Rabbit 9718S 1:800(IB) 1:200(IF) p-ATM(Ser1981) Novusbiologicals,USA Mouse NB100-306 1:800(IB) 1:200(IF) RAD51 Abnova,China Mouse H00005888-B01P 1:500(IB) DDX4 Abcam,USA Rabbit AB13840 1:200(IF) Beta-ACTIN Zhongshan,China Mouse TA09 1:5000(IB) GFP Abcam,USA Chicken AB13970 1:2000(IB) Secondary AlexaFluor488Donkeyanti-RabbitIgG Invitrogen,USA A-21206 1:500(IF) AlexaFluor555DonkeyantiRabbitIgG Invitrogen,USA A-31572 1:500(IF) AlexaFluor647GoatantiRabbitIgG Invitrogen,USA A-21244 1:500(IF) AlexaFluor488GoatantiMouseIgG Invitrogen,USA A-11029 1:500(IF) AlexaFluor555DonkeyantiMouseIgG Invitrogen,USA A-31570 1:500(IF) AlexaFluor488GoatantiChickenIgG Invitrogen,USA A-11039 1:500(IF) Immunofluorescence staining and foci intensity DetectionofapoptosisbyTUNELstaining quantification Frozen ovarian sections were permeabilized with 0.1% Immunofluorescence staining of oocytes and ovaries was Triton X-100 in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), followed by performed according to standard procedures (Guo et al., incubation with the TUNEL reaction solution from the In-Situ 2016; Xiong et al., 2008). DNA was labeled with 4(cid:48), Cell Death Detection Kit, Fluorescein (Roche Diagnostics, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole(DAPI,Sigma, Germany). Images USA).Allstainingprocedureswereperformedaccordingtothe were analyzed using FV10-ASW 2.1 viewer software. The manufacturer’sinstructions.DNAwaslabeledwithDAPI. intensitiesofthefociwerequantifiedusingImageJsoftware. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and primordial and Cometassay primaryfolliclecounting Alkaline comet assay was performed according to standard OvariansectionswereincubatedwiththeHEreactionsolution procedures (Berthelot-Ricou et al., 2011; Tice et al., 2000). (BOSTER, USA) at room temperature (RT). All staining Comets were analyzed using CASP comet assay analysis procedures were performed according to the manufacturer’s software (Andor Technology, UK). Threeindependent repeats instructions.Oocytesresidinginprimordialandprimaryfollicles wereperformed. were counted, as described previously (Myers et al., 2004; 388 www.zoores.ac.cn Skaznik-Wikieletal.,2007). usedforstatisticalanalysis. ConstructionofOOEP-GFPexpressionplasmid Statisticalanalyses The protein-coding region of Ooep was amplified by Quantitative analyses were based on at least three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and inserted into independent repeats and results were represented as pcDNA3.1/CT-GFP-TOPO (Invitrogen, USA). Integrity was means±SEM. Data were first tested by the homogeneity of confirmedbyDNAsequencing. variance test. For non-normal distribution, the data were subjected to nonparametric tests. Otherwise, the data were In vitro transcription and mRNA microinjection of GV analyzed by t-tests. We considered P<0.05 as statistically oocytes significant. Ooep-GfpexpressingplasmidswerelinearizedwithScaI(New England Biolabs, USA). The mRNA was synthesized using RESULTS an in vitro transcription kit (mMessage mMachine T7 kit, Ooep participates in DNA double-strand break repair in Ambion, USA),andpurifiedwithaRNeasyMinEluteCleanup mouseoocytes Kit (Qiagen, Germany). The mRNA was then dissolved in Upon DNA damage, histone H2AX is phosphorylated at nuclease-free water and stored at −80 ◦C. We microinjected Ser139 (γ-H AX) and recruited to the damaged sites to form 500ng/µLofmRNAininjectionbuffer(10mmol/LTris-HCl(pH 2 visible foci under confocal microscopy (Rogakou et al., 1998). 7.5)and0.1mmol/LEDTA)intothecytoplasmofOoep-/-GV γ-H AX foci formation is generally considered as a marker of oocytes. 2 DNA damage. In the fully-grown GV oocytes, depletion of Single-oocytecDNAamplificationandquantitativeRT-PCR OOEP caused a significant increase in γ-H AX foci intensity 2 Briefly, cDNA was prepared from a single GV oocyte and compared to wild-type oocytes (Figure 1A), suggesting more 22 amplified by 20 cycles of PCR according to published endogenous DNA damage in Ooeptm/tm oocytes. To validate protocols (Tang et al., 2010). Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate thisobservation, weperformedcometassay,anunambiguous dehydrogenase (Gapdh) was used as the housekeeping methodthatmeasurestheextentofDNAdamageonasingle control.PrimersforamplificationofGapdhandOoepincluded: cell basis (Berthelot-Ricou et al., 2011; Tice et al., 2000). Ooep forward: 5(cid:48)-GTCATAGGCACAGACCAAGCG-3(cid:48), Ooep TheGVoocytesfromOoeptm/tmfemalesdisplayedsignificantly reverse: 5(cid:48)-GGCCGCCATGTTCAAGAGAAT-3(cid:48); Gapdh forward: longer comet tails than those from the wild-type counterparts 5(cid:48)-TTGAGGTCAATGAAGGGGTC-3(cid:48),Gapdhreverse: 5(cid:48)-TCG (Figure1B),confirmingthatOoeptm/tmoocytescontainedmore TCCCGTAGACAFAAigATuGrGe-3s(cid:48) .GraphPadPrism5softwarewas endogenousDNAdamage. Figure1OoepdepletioncausesDNAdamageinmouseoocytes A:Immunostainingrevealedhigherlevelsofγ-H2AXfociinOoeptm/tmGVoocytesthaninwild-type(WT)counterparts.Quantificationoftheγ-H2AXfociintensity isshownintheloweFrpiagneul.rBe:C 1om eOtaosseaypc odnfiermpedlethtaitoOone pctm/atmuGsVeoosc yDtesNshAow eddgarematearDgNeA dianm amge.oDuatasaere oproescenytetdeass m ean±SEM.Scale bars:10µm,***:P<0.001. A: Immunostaining revealed higher levels of γ-H AX foci in Ooeptm/tm GV oocytes than in 2 ZoologicalResearch39(6):387–395,2018 389 wild-type (WT) counterparts. Quantification of the γ-H AX foci intensity is shown in the 2 lower panel. B: Comet assay confirmed that Ooeptm/tm GV oocytes showed greater DNA damage. Data are presented as mean±SEM. Scale bars: 10 µm, ***: P<0.001. The accumulation of DNA damage in Ooeptm/tm oocytes than in the wild-type oocytes, indicating compromised DNA suggested inefficiency in DNA damage repair. To test this damage repair (Figure 2A, B). To further validate the hypothesis, we treated wild-type and mutant GV oocytes role of OOEP in DNA damage repair, we performed a with 50 µg/mL of etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, rescue experiment by micro-injecting Gfp (green fluorescent to induce DNA DSBs (Marangos & Carroll, 2012; Nagy & protein)-tagged Ooep mRNA into the Ooeptm/tm oocytes. Soutoglou, 2009), and compared the dynamics of γ-H AX Consistently, the OOEP-complemented oocytes resolved 2 resolution. Immediately after treatment, wild-type and mutant γ-H AX more efficiently than the Ooeptm/tm oocytes after 2 oocytes had comparable γ-H AX levels, as measured by etoposide treatment and recovery (Figure 2C). These data 2 immunostaining (Figure 2A) and immunoblotting analyses together support the notion that maternal protein OOEP is (Figure 2B). Following several hours of DNA repair recovery, necessaryforefficientDNADSBrepairinoocytes. Inlinewith γ-H AX was significantly resolved in the wild-type oocytes, thisrole,theproteinexpressionofOOEPwasslightlyinduced 2 reflecting efficient DNA damage repair. In sharp contrast, byetoposidetreatmentinGVoocytes(Figure2D). γ-H AX remained at a higher level in the Ooeptm/tm oocytes 23 2 Figure2OoepparticipatesinDNAdouble-strandbreakrepairinmouseoocytes Figure 2 Ooep participates in DNA double-strand break repair in mouse oocytes A:Ooeptm/tm andWToocytesweresubjectedtoetoposidetreatmentandrecovery. Immediatelyafteretoposidetreatment(norecovery),Ooeptm/tm andWT oocytesshowedasimilarlevelofγ-H2AX.After6-hrecovery,Ooeptm/tmoocytesretainedmoreγ-H2AXfocithanWToocytes.B:Etoposidetreatmentinduced A: Ooeptm/tm and WT oocytes were subjected to etoposide treatment and recovery. asimilarincreaseinγ-H2AXinbothWTandOoeptm/tmoocytes.γ-H2AXwasbetterresolvedinWTbutnotOoeptm/tmoocytesafter4-hrecovery.Eachsample contained80oocytes.C:OOEP-GFPwasre-expressedinOoeptm/tmoocytes(leftpanel).After3-hrecoveryfromthesameetoposidetreatment,OOEP-rescued oocyteshadIamlomweerdleivaelteoflyγ -Ha2fAtXert heantoOpooepstimd/tme otorceytaetsm(reignhtt p(anneol) .rDe:cIomvmeurnyob)l,o ttOingoaenpatlyms/itsms haonwded WthaTtO oOoEPcyptroetse inslhevoewlweedre aup regulatedby etoposidetreatment.Eachsamplecontained20oocytes.Dataarepresentedasmean±SEM.Scalebars:10µm.*:P<0.05. similar level of γ-H AX. After 6-h recovery, Ooeptm/tm oocytes retained more γ-H AX foci than 2 2 OoepmaybeinvolvedinHR-mediatedDNADSBrepair 2015; Titus et al., 2013). ATM activation by DSBs initiates In oocytesW, TD NoAocDySteBs. isB:p Eretdoopmoinsiadnetl ytrereaptamireendt viniaduthceed a sriombuilsatrc ihneccrkepaosinet isnig nγa-HlingAaXs wine llbaosthD SWBTr eapnadir processes HR-mediatedpathway, inwhichataxiatelangiectasiamutated insomaticcells(Behrense2tal.,2014;Jackson&Bartek,2009) (ATM) kinase plays a central orchestration role (Oktay et al., and germ cells (Di Giacomo et al., 2005; Oktay et al., 2015). Ooeptm/tm oocytes. γ-H AX was better resolved in WT but not Ooeptm/tm oocytes after 4-h 2 390 www.zroeocroevs.earcy.c.n Each sample contained 80 oocytes. C: OOEP-GFP was re-expressed in Ooeptm/tm oocytes (left panel). After 3-h recovery from the same etoposide treatment, OOEP-rescued oocytes had a lower level of γ-H AX than Ooeptm/tm oocytes (right panel). D: Immunoblotting 2 analysis showed that OOEP protein level were upregulated by etoposide treatment. Each sample contained 20 oocytes. Data are presented as mean±SEM. Scale bars: 10 µm. *: P<0.05. InmouseGVoocytes,ATMcanbeactivatedbycertainlevels thewild-typeoocytes,despiteγ-H AXlevelbeingcomparable 2 of etoposide-induced DNA DSBs. We therefore treated the (Figure3A).Immunoblottinganalysisofp-ATMfurthervalidated oocytes with 50 µg/mL of etoposide for 3 h, as per previous this observation. Under normal conditions, very little p-ATM study(Marangos&Carroll,2012), andexaminedtheeffectof was detected in either wild-type or mutant oocytes. However, OOEP on ATM activation by phosphorylation at serine 1981 higher levels of p-ATM were induced in wild-type oocytes residue (p-ATM) (Lavin & Kozlov, 2007). Co-immunostaining compared with mutant oocytes following etoposide treatment analysis showed that fewer p-ATM foci were formed and (Figure3B).TheseresultssuggestthatOOEPregulatesATM co-localizedwithγ-H AXfociintheOoeptm/tm oocytesthanin activationuponDNADSBs. 2 24 Figure3OOEPisrequiredforATMactivationandRAD51recruitmenttoDNAdamagesites A:Ooeptm/tm anFdigWuTroeo 3cy tOesOwEerPe siusb rjeecqteuditroetdhe fsoarm AeTetMopo asicdetitvreaattimoenn t.anImdm RunAoflDuo5re1s creenccreusitatimninegnsth toow eDdNthaAt adta3m-hapogset damage,Ooeptm/tm oocytescontainedalowerlevelofactiveATM(p-ATM)comparedwithWTcounterparts. B:Immunoblottingdetectionofp-ATMlevelunderuntreatedand etoposide-treatseidtecosn ditions. Inuntreatedconditions,rarep-ATMwasdetectedinWTandOoeptm/tmoocytes. At3hafteretoposidetreatment,higherlevelof p-ATMweredetectedinWTbutnotOoeptm/tmoocytes.Eachsamplecontained80oocytes.C:Immunofluorescencestainingshowedthatat3-hpostetoposide treatment,OoeAptm:/ tmOooocyetepstmh/atmd alaonwder leWvelTof RAoDo5c1yttheasn WwTecornet rolss.uDbajteacatreedp restoen tetdhaes mseaamn±eS EMe.toSpcaolesibdaers :1t0reµamtm.*e**n:tP.< 0.001,*:P<0.05. RAD51 isImanmeusnsoefnlutioalrersecceonmcbei nsatasienidnogw snhsotrweaemd tohfatA TaMt 3-h poTshtu dsa,mthaegaeb, sOenoceeptomf/tmO OooEcPyitneso occoyntteasinimedp aair edRAD51focal in the HR pathway (Oktay et al., 2015, Perez et al., 2007). accumulationatDNAdamagesites.Takentogether,thesedata After DNA DSBs, the RAD51 protein is recruited and binds demonstratethatOOEPmayfunctionintheHR-mediatedDNA lower level of active ATM (p-ATM) compared with WT counterparts. B: Immunoblotting to resected single-strand DNA to form DNA-protein filaments DSBrepairpathwaybyregulatingATMactivationandRAD51 (RAD51foci),whichfacilitatethesearchingandpairingofDNA recruitmenttoDSBsitesinmouseoocytes. homologuesddeutericntgiorne coofm bpi-nAaTtioMn (lJeavseinl &unRdoetrh sutenitnr,ea2t0e1d3 )a.nd etoposide-treated conditions. In untreated Ooep protectsoocytesfromDNADSB-inducedapoptosis Uponetoposidetreatment,RAD51fociwereformedatdamage andmeiosisdelay siteslabeledcwointhdiγti-Hon2As,X rianrew ipld--AtyTpeMo owcaytse sd.eHteocwteedve irn,f eWweTr and Ooeptm/tm oocytes. At 3 h after etoposide RAD51 foci were detected in Ooeptm/tm oocytes (Figure 3C). Persistent DNA DSBs can evoke p63-mediated apoptosis of oocytes in primordial and primary follicles (Gonfloni et al., treatment, higher level of p-ATM were detected in WT but not Ooeptm/tm oocytes. Each sample contained 80 oocytes. C: Immunofluorescence staining showed Zthoaolto gaitc a3l-Rhe speoasrct he3to9(p6o):si3d8e7 –395,2018 391 treatment, Ooeptm/tm oocytes had a lower level of RAD51 than WT controls. Data are presented 2009;Suhetal.,2006). OOEPisnecessaryforHR-mediated advanced maternal age (Oktay et al., 2014, 2015; Titus et DNA DSB repair in oocytes, suggesting that Ooeptm/tm al., 2013; Xu et al., 2015). We examined if Ooep expression oocytes might be sensitive to exogenous or endogenous declinedwithmaternalaging. mRNAexpressionlevelsofthe DNA damage insults and prone to apoptosis. To test Ooep gene measured in single GV oocytes of old females this hypothesis, we compared the apoptosis susceptibility (40-week old) were lower than those from young females of oocytes to exogenous DNA damage insults between (8-week old) (Figure 4E). Thus, Ooep expression exhibited wild-type and Ooeptm/tm females at the early postnatal stage. age-dependent decline and may contribute to ovarian failure Five-day-old (P5) mouse ovaries, which contained mostly and reproductive aging under physiological or pathological primordial follicles, were collected and cultured for 12 h with conditions. various doses of DNA cross-linking agent cisplatin (Gonfloni DISCUSSION et al., 2009). At the concentration of 3 mg/L, cisplatin was able to induce mild apoptosis (∼13.5%) in wild-type ovaries DNA damage in oocytes can cause infertility, abortion, and and was therefore utilized in the following studies. After in birth defects, leading to reproductive failure. Among all vitro treatment,ovariansectionsfromOoeptm/tm andwild-type types of DNA damage, DSBs are the most deleterious and females were counterstained with DDX4 (a germ cell specific can substantially impair genome integrity. Experimental and marker) and TUNEL. The percentages of apoptotic oocytes clinicalstudiesonmiceandhumanshaverevealedthatintact (DDX4+TUNEL+)weresignificantlyhigherinOoeptm/tm infants DNA DSB repair in oocytes is necessary to preserve oocyte than in wild-type counterparts (Figure 4A), suggesting that quantityandquality. DeclineinDNADSBrepairhasacausal Ooeptm/tm oocytesweremoresensitivethanwild-typeoocytes relationship with ovarian failure, menopause, and infertility to exogenous DNA damage insults due to compromised HR (Oktay et al., 2014, 2015; Titus et al., 2013; Xu et al., 2015). repair. To understand the in vivo effect of OOEP depletion Genome-wideassociationstudiesonmenopausetiminghave under the physiological conditions, we collected ovaries from also highlighted the strong association of early menopause 4-week-old and 16-week-old wild-type and Ooeptm/tm females with DNA damage response pathways where many genes and compared the number of oocytes within primordial and are involved in DNA repair, particularly the HR pathway primary follicles, which express P63 and are subject to DNA (e.g., BRCA1 pathway) and checkpoint response (cell cycle damage-induced atresia (Suh et al., 2006). Intriguingly, at responseandapoptosis)(Dayetal.,2015;Perryetal.,2013). 4-weekold,thenumbersofoocytesinprimordialandprimary Thus, investigating how oocytes respond to DNA DSBs and follicles were significantly higher in Ooeptm/tm females than in what molecules are involved in HR-mediated DSB repair will wild-type females. This probably reflected the developmental shed light on oocyte and ovarian aging. In this study, we haltcausedbytheaccumulatedendogenousDNAdamagein presentedthefollowinglinesofevidencetosupportthenotion partoftheoocytes. Incontrast, at16-weekold, thenumbers that OOEP may participate in HR-mediated DNA DSB repair of oocytes in primordial and primary follicles were statistically by regulating the ATM-RAD51 axis in oocytes. Firstly, after lower in Ooeptm/tm females than in wild-type females (Figure etoposide treatment, γ-H AX foci, which monitor DNA DSBs, 4B). Together, these results support that OOEP protects 2 were gradually resolved in wild-type oocytes but persisted oocytes from endogenous or exogenous DNA DSB-induced in Ooep null oocytes, although this defect was rescued by apoptosis and preserves oocyte quantity under DNA damage re-expression of OOEP. Secondly, wild-type oocytes evoked insults. theactivationofATM,acentralcoordinatorinDNADSBrepair DNA damage in fully grown oocytes compromises the processes,inresponsetoexogenousDNAdamage. However, completionofmeiosisbyinducingadelayinmeiosisresumption Ooep-/- oocytes failed to efficiently ignite ATM activation and (germinalvesiclebreakdown,GVBD)(Marangos&Carroll,2012) this defect could be rescued by the re-introduction of OOEP and the activation of spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) at proteins into mutant oocytes. Finally, RAD51, a recombinase metaphase I (Collins et al., 2015; Marangos et al., 2015). essential for HR-mediated DNA DSB repair, was recruited to We investigated the influence of OOEP loss on the kinetics damagesitesandformedfociinwild-typeoocytesinresponse of GVBD and the first polar body extrusion (PBE) during toetoposidetreatment.Incontrast,fewerRAD51proteinswere oocyte in vitro maturation. Under normal conditions, the recruitedtoandformedfociatDNADSBsinOoep-/-oocytes, Ooeptm/tmoocytesshoweda4-hdelayinreaching50%-GVBD although this defect could also be rescued by exogenous compared with wild-type oocytes. In addition, ∼20% less OOEP. oocytescompletedGVBDintheabsenceofOOEPcompared Due to the compromised DNA damage repair, Ooep-/- with the wild-type counterparts at the end of culture (Figure oocytes displayed an accumulation of endogenous DNA 4C). Likewise, the Ooeptm/tm oocytes displayed a 2-h delay in damage,asdeterminedbythecometassay,anunambiguous reaching 50%-PBE. At the end of culture, 20% less oocytes method that measures the extent of DNA damage on a completed PBE compared with the wild-type counterparts single cell basis. As DNA damage can induce atresia (Figure 4D). Thus, OOEP was essential for efficient meiosis of oocytes in primordial and primary follicles through the resumption and completion by preserving oocyte genomic p63-mediated pathway (Gonfloni et al., 2009; Suh et al., integrity.DeclineinDNADSBrepaircompetenceisconsidered 2006), we proposed that the accumulation of endogenous a major factor contributing to oocyte and ovarian aging at DNA damage in Ooep-/- oocytes may drive the atresia 392 www.zoores.ac.cn of oocytes and decrease the oocyte number in primordial derivedfromOoep-/-oocyteswerearrestedatthe2-cellstage and primary follicles under physiological conditions. Indeed, (Li et al., 2008). This developmental arrest could be due in young adult mice (16-week old), a mild but statistically to the DNA damage-induced cell cycle checkpoint (Xu et significant decrease in oocyte quantity within the primordial al., 2015). Thus, OOEP is essential for preserving oocyte and primary follicles was detected in the Ooep-/- ovaries quality. Interestingly,themRNAexpressionofOoepinmouse comparedtothewild-typecounterparts. Oocytesinprimordial oocytes was reduced with advanced maternal age. Several and primary follicles from Ooep-/- females also displayed key HR pathway genes, including Brca1, Mre11, Atm, and higher sensitivity to exogenous DNA insults and were prone Rad51, also display age-dependent expression decrease in to apoptosis. These observations suggest that OOEP is both human and mouse oocytes (Day et al., 2015; Oktay necessaryforthepreservationofoocytequantityinnormaland et al., 2015; Titus et al., 2013). Therefore, the coordinated DNA-damaged conditions. OOEP depletion not only impairs decrease in the expression of Ooep and other canonical HR the survival of oocytes within primordial and primary follicles, genes contributes to ovarian failure and reproductive aging but also affects meiotic maturation and early embryonic under physiological and pathological conditions. OOEP is development. Compared with wild-type oocytes, Ooep-/- GV conservativelyexpressedinhumanoocytes(Zhuetal.,2015), oocytes exhibited delays in meiosis resumption as well as implying that it may play similar roles in repairing DNA DSBs 26 progression to the metaphase II stage. Moreover, embryos viatheHRpathwayinhumanoocytes. %) s ( e yt c o o c oti pt o p A Figure4OoepprotectsoocytesfromDNADSB-inducedapoptosisandmeiosisdelay A:PostnataldFayig5u(Pr5e) 4ov Oarioesepfro pmrWoTteacntdsO oooepctym/ttmesfe fmraolemsw DerNesAu bDjecSteBd-tiontdheuscaemde acipspolaptitnotrseiast maenndt. TmUeNiEoLseisxa dmeinlaatiyonshowedthatthenumbers ofapoptoticgermcells(DDX4+TUNEL+,arrowheads)werehigherinOoeptm/tmovariesthaninWTovaries.B:HEstainingrevealedthatovariesfrom4-week-old Ooeptm/tmfemAal:e sPcoosnttaninaetadlm doareyp 5rim (oPrd5ia)l oanvdaprriiemsa rfyrofomllic leWstTha annthdo sOeofroemptmW/Ttmf efmeamleasl(elesf twpaenreel) .sAutb1j6e-cwteeedk otold ,tOhoee pstamm/tmeovariescontainedless primordialandprimaryfolliclesthanWTovaries(rightpanel).Tenovariansectionswereexaminedforeachanimalandfivefemaleswereusedateachstage.C: Thegerminalcviesspiclleatbirne atkrdeoawtnm(GenVBt.D )ToUfONoEepLtm /temxoaomcyitensawtiaosnd eslahyoedwceodm ptahraedt ttohtehe nWuTmoboceyrtse soufn daepronoprtmoatlicco ngdeitriomns .cTehlelsre wasa4-hdifference inthetimingof50%-GVBDbetweenthetwosamples. Morethan80oocyteswereusedineachsample. D:Kineticsofthefirstpolarbodyextrusion(PBE)in WTandOoep(tDm/tmDGXV4o+oTcyUteNsuEnLde+r, naorrmroawlchonedaitdiosn)s .wOeoreept mh/tmigohoecry teisn dOispolaeypetdm2/t-mh doevlaayriinerse atchhainng i5n0% W-PTBE o.Mvoarreiethsa.n B50: oHocEyt eswereusedineach sample.E:mRNAexpressionofOoepdeclinedwithmaternalaginginGVoocytes.FourteensingleGVoocytesfromtwofemaleswereexaminedateachstage. Dataarepressetnateindiansgm reeavn±eaSlEeMd. *t:hPa<t 0o.0v5a,r**i:ePs <f0r.o01m,* *4*:-Pw<e0e.0k0-1o.ld Ooeptm/tm females contained more primordial OOEPparontde inpsriamreardyis tfroiblulitceldesin tchyatno ptlhaosmse afnrdomloc WalizTe dfeamt ales D(lSefBt rpeapnaeirl)a. rAetl ik1e6ly-winedeikresc to.ldO, OOEoPepistmp/tmredicted to contain the subcortex of mouse and human oocytes (Li et al., 2008; an atypical hnRNP K homology (KH) domain implicated in Zhu et al., 2015). OOEP was also excluded from the DNA RNAbinding(Wangetal.,2014). RNAbindingproteinshave ovaries contained less primordial and primary follicles than WT ovaries (right panel). Ten DSBsitesinoocytestreatedwithetoposide(datanotshown). been recognized as crucial players in the HR repair pathway Thus, the functions of OOEP in regulating HR-mediated DNA (Adamsonetal.,2012).TheinvolvementofRBPsinregulating ovarian sections were examined for each animal and five females were used at each stage. C: The germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) of Ooeptm/tm oocytes wasZ dooelloagyiceadl Rcoesmeparacrhed3 9t(o6 )t:h3e8 7–395,2018 393 WT oocytes under normal conditions. There was a 4-h difference in the timing of 50%-GVBD between the two samples. More than 80 oocytes were used in each sample. D: Kinetics of the first polar body extrusion (PBE) in WT and Ooeptm/tm GV oocytes under normal conditions. Ooeptm/tm oocytes displayed 2-h delay in reaching 50%-PBE. More than 50 oocytes were used ovarian aging has also been reported (Day et al., 2015). For AlbrechtE,AminN,CorreT,HottengaJJ,ManginoM,SmithAV,Tanaka instance, RNA binding protein FMRP encoded by fragile X T,AbecasisGR,AndrulisIL,Anton-CulverH,AntoniouAC,ArndtV,Arnold mental retardation (Fmr1) gene plays an essential role in AM, Barbieri C, Beckmann MW, Beeghly-Fadiel A, Benitez J, Bernstein preservingovarianfunctioninmiceandhumans(Ascanoetal., L, Bielinski SJ, Blomqvist C, Boerwinkle E, Bogdanova NV, Bojesen SE, 2012;Luetal.,2012). Inthefuture,elucidatingthemolecular BollaMK,Borresen-DaleAL,BoutinTS,BrauchH,BrennerH,BrüningT, mechanism of OOEP is warranted to better understand the Burwinkel B, CampbellA, Campbell H, ChanockSJ, Chapman JR, Chen function of RBPs in preserving the genome integrity of germ Y,Chenevix-TrenchG,CouchFJ,CovielloAD,CoxA,CzeneK,DarabiH, cellsandearlyembryos. De Vivo, Demerath EW, Dennis J, Devilee P, Dörk T, Dos-Santos-Silva I, CONCLUSIONS Dunning AM, Eicher JD, Fasching PA, Faul JD, Figueroa J, Flesch-Janys D,GandinI,GarciaME,García-ClosasM,GilesGG,GirottoGG,Goldberg To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to provide evidence that maternal OOEP may participate in MS,González-NeiraA,GoodarziMO,GroveML,GudbjartssonDF,GuénelP, HR-mediated DNA DSB repair by regulating the ATM-RAD51 GuoXQ,HaimanCA,HallP,HamannU,HendersonBE,HockingLJ,Hofman axisinoocytes. Thus,OOEPmayparticipateintheregulation A,Homuth G,HooningMJ, HopperJL,HuFB, HuangJY,Humphreys K, ofgenomestabilityinoocytesandcontributetoovarianfailure Hunter DJ, Jakubowska A, Jones SE, Kabisch M, Karasik D, Knight JA, and reproductive aging under physiological or pathological Kolcic I, Kooperberg C, Kosma VM, Kriebel J, Kristensen V, Lambrechts conditions. D,LangenbergC,LiJM,LiX,LindströmS,LiuYM,LuanJA,LubinskiJ, MägiR,MannermaaA,ManzJ,MargolinS,MartenJ,MartinNG,Masciullo COMPETINGINTERESTS C,MeindlA,MichailidouK,MihailovE,MilaniL,MilneRL,Müller-Nurasyid Theauthorsdeclarethattheyhavenocompetinginterests. M,NallsM,NealeBM,NevanlinnaH,NevenP,NewmanAB,Nordestgaard BG, Olson JE, Padmanabhan S, Peterlongo P, Peters U, Petersmann A, AUTHORS’CONTRIBUTIONS PetoJ,PharoahPDP,PirastuNN,PirieA,PistisG,PolasekO,Porteous P.Z.designedthestudy.P.Z.andQ.H.C.supervisedthestudy.D.J.H.,L.W., D,PsatyBM,PylkäsK,RadiceP,RaffelLJ,RivadeneiraF,RudanI,Rudolph Z.B.Z.,K.G.,J.Z.L.,andX.C.H.performedtheexperiments. P.Z.wrotethe A, Ruggiero D, Sala CF, Sanna S, Sawyer EJ, Schlessinger D, Schmidt manuscript. 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