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Yamazaki W, Badescu D, Tan SL, Ragoussis J, Taketo T. Effects of the Sex Chromosome Complement, XX, XO, or XY, on the Transcriptome and Development of Mouse Oocytes During Follicular Growth. Front Genet 2021; 12:792604. [PMID: 34987552 PMCID: PMC8721172 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.792604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The sex chromosome complement, XX or XY, determines sexual differentiation of the gonadal primordium into a testis or an ovary, which in turn directs differentiation of the germ cells into sperm and oocytes, respectively, in eutherian mammals. When the X monosomy or XY sex reversal occurs, XO and XY females exhibit subfertility and infertility in the mouse on the C57BL/6J genetic background, suggesting that functional germ cell differentiation requires the proper sex chromosome complement. Using these mouse models, we asked how the sex chromosome complement affects gene transcription in the oocytes during follicular growth. An oocyte accumulates cytoplasmic components such as mRNAs and proteins during follicular growth to support subsequent meiotic progression, fertilization, and early embryonic development without de novo transcription. However, how gene transcription is regulated during oocyte growth is not well understood. Our results revealed that XY oocytes became abnormal in chromatin configuration, mitochondria distribution, and de novo transcription compared to XX or XO oocytes near the end of growth phase. Therefore, we compared transcriptomes by RNA-sequencing among the XX, XO, and XY oocytes of 50–60 µm in diameter, which were still morphologically comparable. The results showed that the X chromosome dosage limited the X-linked and autosomal gene transcript levels in XO oocytes whereas many genes were transcribed from the Y chromosome and made the transcriptome in XY oocytes closer to that in XX oocytes. We then compared the transcript levels of 3 X-linked, 3 Y-linked and 2 autosomal genes in the XX, XO, and XY oocytes during the entire growth phase as well as at the end of growth phase using quantitative RT-PCR. The results indicated that the transcript levels of most genes increased with oocyte growth while largely maintaining the X chromosome dosage dependence. Near the end of growth phase, however, transcript levels of some X-linked genes did not increase in XY oocytes as much as XX or XO oocytes, rendering their levels much lower than those in XX oocytes. Thus, XY oocytes established a distinct transcriptome at the end of growth phase, which may be associated with abnormal chromatin configuration and mitochondria distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Yamazaki
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Dunarel Badescu
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill University Genome Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Seang Lin Tan
- Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- OriginElle Fertility Clinic and Women’s Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jiannis Ragoussis
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill University Genome Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Teruko Taketo
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Teruko Taketo,
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Vaz B, El Mansouri F, Liu X, Taketo T. Premature ovarian insufficiency in the XO female mouse on the C57BL/6J genetic background. Mol Hum Reprod 2020; 26:678-688. [PMID: 32634219 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaaa049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, all but 1% of monosomy 45.X embryos die in utero and those who reach term suffer from congenital abnormalities and infertility termed Turner's syndrome (TS). By contrast, XO female mice on various genetic backgrounds show much milder physical defects and normal fertility, diminishing their value as an animal model for studying the infertility of TS patients. In this article, we report that XO mice on the C57BL/6J (B6) genetic background showed early oocyte loss, infertility or subfertility and high embryonic lethality, suggesting that the effect of monosomy X in the female germline may be shared between mice and humans. First, we generated XO mice on either a mixed N2(C3H.B6) or B6 genetic background and compared the number of oocytes in neonatal ovaries; N2.XO females retained 45% of the number of oocytes in N2.XX females, whereas B6.XO females retained only 15% of that in B6.XX females. Second, while N2.XO females were as fertile as N2.XX females, both the frequency of delivery and the total number of pups delivered by B6.XO females were significantly lower than those by B6.XX females. Third, after mating with B6 males, both N2.XO and B6.XO females rarely produced XO pups carrying paternal X chromosomes, although a larger percentage of embryos was found to be XO before implantation. Furthermore, B6.XO females delivered 20% XO pups among female progeny after mating with C3H males. We conclude that the impact of monosomy X on female mouse fertility depends on the genetic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Vaz
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - F El Mansouri
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A3J1, Canada.,Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A3J1, Canada
| | - X Liu
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A3J1, Canada.,Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A3J1, Canada
| | - T Taketo
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada.,Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A3J1, Canada.,Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A3J1, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A3J1, Canada
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Zhuang QKW, Galvez JH, Xiao Q, AlOgayil N, Hyacinthe J, Taketo T, Bourque G, Naumova AK. Sex Chromosomes and Sex Phenotype Contribute to Biased DNA Methylation in Mouse Liver. Cells 2020; 9:E1436. [PMID: 32527045 PMCID: PMC7349295 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex biases in the genome-wide distribution of DNA methylation and gene expression levels are some of the manifestations of sexual dimorphism in mammals. To advance our understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to sex biases in DNA methylation and gene expression, we conducted whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) as well as RNA-seq on liver samples from mice with different combinations of sex phenotype and sex-chromosome complement. We compared groups of animals with different sex phenotypes, but the same genetic sexes, and vice versa, same sex phenotypes, but different sex-chromosome complements. We also compared sex-biased DNA methylation in mouse and human livers. Our data show that sex phenotype, X-chromosome dosage, and the presence of Y chromosome shape the differences in DNA methylation between males and females. We also demonstrate that sex bias in autosomal methylation is associated with sex bias in gene expression, whereas X-chromosome dosage-dependent methylation differences are not, as expected for a dosage-compensation mechanism. Furthermore, we find partial conservation between the repertoires of mouse and human genes that are associated with sex-biased methylation, an indication that gene function is likely to be an important factor in this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinwei Kim-Wee Zhuang
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1C7, Canada; (Q.K.-W.Z.); (N.A.)
| | - Jose Hector Galvez
- Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics, Montréal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada;
| | - Qian Xiao
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Najla AlOgayil
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1C7, Canada; (Q.K.-W.Z.); (N.A.)
| | - Jeffrey Hyacinthe
- Department of Quantitative Life Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada;
| | - Teruko Taketo
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada;
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Guillaume Bourque
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1C7, Canada; (Q.K.-W.Z.); (N.A.)
- Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics, Montréal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada;
| | - Anna K. Naumova
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1C7, Canada; (Q.K.-W.Z.); (N.A.)
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
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Abstract
The production of haploid gametes during meiosis is dependent on the homology-driven processes of pairing, synapsis, and recombination. On the mammalian heterogametic sex chromosomes, these key meiotic activities are confined to the pseudoautosomal region (PAR), a short region of near-perfect sequence homology between the X and Y chromosomes. Despite its established importance for meiosis, the PAR is rapidly evolving, raising the question of how proper X/Y segregation is buffered against the accumulation of homology-disrupting mutations. Here, I investigate the interplay of PAR evolution and function in two interfertile house mouse subspecies characterized by structurally divergent PARs, Mus musculus domesticus and M. m. castaneus. Using cytogenetic methods to visualize the sex chromosomes at meiosis, I show that intersubspecific F1 hybrids harbor an increased frequency of pachytene spermatocytes with unsynapsed sex chromosomes. This high rate of asynapsis is due, in part, to the premature release of synaptic associations prior to completion of prophase I. Further, I show that when sex chromosomes do synapse in intersubspecific hybrids, recombination is reduced across the paired region. Together, these meiotic defects afflict ∼50% of spermatocytes from F1 hybrids and lead to increased apoptosis in meiotically dividing cells. Despite flagrant disruption of the meiotic program, a subset of spermatocytes complete meiosis and intersubspecific F1 males remain fertile. These findings cast light on the meiotic constraints that shape sex chromosome evolution and offer initial clues to resolve the paradox raised by the rapid evolution of this functionally significant locus.
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Trent S, Dennehy A, Richardson H, Ojarikre OA, Burgoyne PS, Humby T, Davies W. Steroid sulfatase-deficient mice exhibit endophenotypes relevant to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2012; 37:221-9. [PMID: 21723668 PMCID: PMC3242075 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2011] [Revised: 05/10/2011] [Accepted: 06/06/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition characterised by inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity; it is frequently co-morbid with anxiety and conduct disorders, sleep perturbation and abnormal consummatory behaviours. Recent studies have implicated the neurosteroid-modulating enzyme steroid sulfatase (STS) as a modulator of ADHD-related endophenotypes. The effects of steroid sulfatase deficiency on homecage activity, feeding/drinking behaviours, anxiety-related behaviours (assayed in light-dark box and open field paradigms), social dominance and serum steroid hormone levels were determined by comparing 40,XY and 39,X(Y*)O mice. Subsequently, mice administered the steroid sulfatase inhibitor COUMATE acutely were compared to vehicle-treated mice on behavioural tasks sensitive to enzyme deficiency to dissociate between its developmental and ongoing effects. 39,X(Y*)O mice exhibited heightened reactivity to a novel environment, hyperactivity in the active phase, and increased water (but not food) consumption relative to 40,XY mice during a 24h period; the former group also demonstrated evidence for heightened emotional reactivity. There was no difference in social dominance between the 40,XY and 39,X(Y*)O mice. COUMATE administration had no effect on homecage activity, water consumption or anxiety measures in the open field. 39,X(Y*)O mice exhibited significantly lower dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) serum levels than 40,XY mice, but equivalent corticosterone levels. Together with previous data, the present results suggest that steroid sulfatase may influence core and associated ADHD behavioural endophenotypes via both developmental and ongoing mechanisms, and that the 39,X(Y*)O model may represent a useful tool for elucidating the neurobiological basis of these endophenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Trent
- Behavioural Genetics Group, Schools of Psychology and Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and Department of Psychological Medicine and Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Trevor Humby
- Behavioural Genetics Group, Schools of Psychology and Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and Department of Psychological Medicine and Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - William Davies
- Behavioural Genetics Group, Schools of Psychology and Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and Department of Psychological Medicine and Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Corresponding author at: Henry Wellcome Building, Heath Park Campus, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK. Tel.: +44 0 29 2068 7047; fax: +44 0 29 2068 7068.
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Davies W, Humby T, Isles AR, Burgoyne PS, Wilkinson LS. X-monosomy effects on visuospatial attention in mice: a candidate gene and implications for Turner syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2007; 61:1351-60. [PMID: 17161381 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2006] [Revised: 08/11/2006] [Accepted: 08/15/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The loss of all, or part of an X chromosome, in Turner syndrome (TS, 45,XO) results in deficits in attentional functioning. METHODS Using a 39,XO mouse model, we tested the hypothesis that X-monosomy and/or parental origin of the single X chromosome may influence visuospatial attentional functioning in a 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT). RESULTS Under attentionally demanding conditions 39,XO mice displayed impaired discriminative response accuracy and slowed correct reaction times relative to 40,XX mice; these deficits were alleviated in a version of the task with reduced attentional demands. Parental origin of the X did not affect performance of the 5-CSRTT. In contrast, the attentional phenotype was rescued in 40,XY*X mice possessing a single maternally inherited X chromosome and a small Y*X chromosome that comprises a complete pseudoautosomal region (PAR), and a small X-specific segment. CONCLUSIONS Our findings are consistent with an X-monosomy effect on attention and suggest the existence of X-linked gene(s) that escape X-inactivation, are present on the small Y*X chromosome and impact on attentional functioning; the strongest candidate gene is Sts, encoding steroid sulfatase. The data inform the TS literature and indicate novel genetic mechanisms that may be of general significance to the neurobiology of attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Davies
- Laboratories of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and Developmental Genetics and Imprinting, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Babraham, United Kingdom
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