Maternal gene Ooep may participate in homologous recombination-mediated DNA double-strand break repair in mouse oocytes.

DNA damage in oocytes can cause infertility and birth defects. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are highly deleterious and can substantially impair genome integrity. Homologous recombination (HR)-mediated DNA DSB repair plays dominant roles in safeguarding oocyte quantity and quality. However, little is known regarding the key players of the HR repair pathway in oocytes. Here, we identified oocyte-specific gene Ooep as a novel key component of the HR repair pathway in mouse oocytes. OOEP was required for efficient ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase activation and Rad51 recombinase(RAD51)focal accumulation at DNA DSBs. Ooep null oocytes were defective in DNA DSB repair and prone to apoptosis upon exogenous DNA damage insults. Moreover, Ooep null oocytes exhibited delayed meiotic maturation. Therefore, OOEP played roles in preserving oocyte quantity and quality by maintaining genome stability. Ooep expression decreased with the advance of maternal age, suggesting its involvement in maternal aging.

Germ stem cells are active in postnatal mouse ovary under physiological conditions.

STUDY HYPOTHESIS: Are active ovarian germ stem cells present in postnatal mouse ovaries under physiological conditions? STUDY FINDING: Active ovarian germ stem cells exist and function in adult mouse ovaries under physiological conditions. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: In vitro studies suggested the existence of germ stem cells in postnatal ovaries of mouse, pig and human. However, in vivo studies provided evidence against the existence of active germ stem cells in postnatal mouse ovaries. Thus, it remains controversial whether such germ stem cells really exist and function in vivo in postnatal mammalian ovaries. STUDY DESIGN, SAMPLES/MATERIALS, METHODS: Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4)-MerCreMer transgenic mice were crossed with R26R-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) mice to establish a tamoxifen-inducible tracing system so that Oct4-expressing potential ovarian germ stem cells in young adult mice (5-6 weeks old) can be labeled with EYFP. The germ cell activities of DNA replication, mitotic division, entry into meiosis and progression to primordial follicle stage were investigated by means of immunofluorescent staining of ovarian tissues collected at different time points post-tamoxifen injection (1 day, 3 days, 2 months and 4 months). Meiosis entry and primordial follicle formation were also measured by EYFP-labeled single-cell RT-PCR. Germ cell proliferation and mitotic division were examined through 5-bromodeoxyuridine triphosphate incorporation assay. At each time point, ovaries from two to three animals were used for each set of experiment. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: By labeling the Oct4-expressing small germ cells and tracing their fates for up to 4 months, we observed persistent meiosis entry and primordial follicle replenishment. Furthermore, we captured the transient processes of mitotic DNA replication as well as mitotic division of the marked germ cells at various time periods after tracing. These lines of evidence unambiguously support the presence of active germ stem cells in postnatal ovaries and their function in replenishing primordial follicle pool under physiological conditions. Moreover, we pointed out that Oct4(+) deleted in azoospermia-like (Dazl)(-) but not Oct4(+)Dazl(+) or Oct4(+) DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) Box Polypeptide 4 (Ddx4)(+) cells contain a population of germ stem cells in mouse ovary. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study was conducted in mice. Whether or not the results are applicable to human remain unclear. The future work should aim at identifying the specific ovarian germ stem cell marker and evaluating the significance of these stem cells to normal ovarian function. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Clarifying the existence of active germ stem cells and their functional significance in postnatal mammalian ovaries could provide new insights in understanding the mechanism of ovarian aging and failure. LARGE SCALE DATA: Not applicable. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was supported by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (grant number 2012CBA01300) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China to P.Z. (31571484). No competing interests are reported.

[cDNA cloning and sequence analysis of pluripotency genes in tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri)].

In this paper, partial sequences of the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) Klf4, Sox2, and c-Myc genes were cloned and sequenced, which were 382, 612, and 485 bp in length and encoded 127, 204, and 161 amino acids, respectively. Whereas, their cDNA sequence identities with those of human were 89%, 98%, and 89%, respectively. Their phylogenetic tree results indicated different topologies and suggested individual evolutional pathways. These results can facilitate further functional studies.