Maternal genetic variants in kinesin motor domains prematurely increase egg aneuploidy.

The female reproductive lifespan depends on egg quality, particularly euploidy. Mistakes in meiosis leading to egg aneuploidy are common, but the genetic landscape causing this is not well understood due to limited phenotypic data. We identify genetic determinants of reproductive aging via egg aneuploidy using a biobank of maternal exomes linked with maternal age and embryonic aneuploidy data. We found 404 genes with variants enriched in individuals with high egg aneuploidy rates and implicate kinesin protein family genes in aneuploidy risk. Experimental perturbations showed that motor domain variants in these genes increase aneuploidy in mouse oocytes. A knock-in mouse model validated that a specific variant in kinesin KIF18A accelerates reproductive aging and diminishes fertility. These findings suggest potential non-invasive biomarkers for egg quality, aiding personalized fertility medicine. One sentence summary: The study identifies novel genetic determinants of reproductive aging linked to egg aneuploidy by analyzing maternal exomes and demonstrates that variants in kinesin genes, specifically KIF18A , contribute to increased aneuploidy and accelerated reproductive aging, offering potential for personalized fertility medicine.

The concordance rates of an initial trophectoderm biopsy with the rest of the embryo using PGTseq, a targeted next-generation sequencing platform for preimplantation genetic testing-aneuploidy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how often the results of a single trophectoderm (TE) biopsy tested by PGTseq, a targeted next-generation sequencing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy technology, reflect the biology of the rest of the embryo. DESIGN: Blinded prospective cohort study. SETTING: University-affiliated private practice. PATIENT(S): A total of 300 blastocysts were donated; 113 of these embryos were euploid; 163 embryos possessed at least one whole chromosome aneuploidy; and 24 embryos were negative for whole chromosome aneuploidy but possessed at least one secondary finding on initial TE biopsy. INTERVENTION(S): All blastocysts underwent rebiopsy and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy on the PGTseq platform. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Partial concordance rate per embryo, total concordance rate per embryo, and total concordance rate per chromosomal event. RESULT(S): An initial TE biopsy result of euploidy or whole chromosome aneuploidy was reconfirmed in >99% of rebiopsied samples, affirming that meiotic errors are manifested in almost the entire embryo. In contrast, results of whole chromosome or segmental mosaicism were confirmed in 15%-18% of subsequent rebiopsies, suggesting that mitotic events are only sporadically seen throughout the embryo. Segmental aneuploidy was confirmed in 56.6% of rebiopsied samples, identifying a mixed meiotic and mitotic etiology for such abnormalities. CONCLUSION(S): A euploid or aneuploid result on the PGTseq platform is highly concordant with the rest of the embryo's ploidy status. The rarer confirmation of whole chromosome mosaic and segmental mosaic results suggest that these mosaics are suitable for embryo transfer. Segmental aneuploidy, with higher concordance rates throughout the embryo, may represent a different biologic etiology compared to mosaic embryos.

Multiresolution Imaging Using Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Identifies Distinct Biodistribution Profiles of Extracellular Vesicles and Exomeres with Redirected Tropism.

Extracellular particles (EPs) including extracellular vesicles (EVs) and exomeres play significant roles in diseases and therapeutic applications. However, their spatiotemporal dynamics in vivo have remained largely unresolved in detail due to the lack of a suitable method. Therefore, a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based reporter, PalmGRET, is created to enable pan-EP labeling ranging from exomeres (<50 nm) to small (<200 nm) and medium and large (>200 nm) EVs. PalmGRET emits robust, sustained signals and allows the visualization, tracking, and quantification of the EPs from whole animal to nanoscopic resolutions under different imaging modalities, including bioluminescence, BRET, and fluorescence. Using PalmGRET, it is shown that EPs released by lung metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibit lung tropism with varying distributions to other major organs in immunocompetent mice. It is further demonstrated that gene knockdown of lung-tropic membrane proteins, solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 2A1, alanine aminopeptidase/Cd13, and chloride intracellular channel 1 decreases HCC-EP distribution to the lungs and yields distinct biodistribution profiles. It is anticipated that EP-specific imaging, quantitative assays, and detailed in vivo characterization are a starting point for more accurate and comprehensive in vivo models of EP biology and therapeutic design.

Sonogenetic Modulation of Cellular Activities Using an Engineered Auditory-Sensing Protein.

Biomolecules that respond to different external stimuli enable the remote control of genetically modified cells. We report herein a sonogenetic approach that can manipulate target cell activities by focused ultrasound stimulation. This system requires an ultrasound-responsive protein derived from an engineered auditory-sensing protein prestin. Heterologous expression of mouse prestin containing two parallel amino acid substitutions, N7T and N308S, that frequently exist in prestins from echolocating species endowed transfected mammalian cells with the ability to sense ultrasound. An ultrasound pulse of low frequency and low pressure efficiently evoked cellular calcium responses after transfecting with prestin(N7T, N308S). Moreover, pulsed ultrasound can also noninvasively stimulate target neurons expressing prestin(N7T, N308S) in deep regions of mouse brains. Our study delineates how an engineered auditory-sensing protein can cause mammalian cells to sense ultrasound stimulation. Moreover, our sonogenetic tools will serve as new strategies for noninvasive therapy in deep tissues.