Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos.
Beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidase is a lysosomal enzyme; mutation in this protein leads to Tay-Sachs or Sandhoff disease. We have developed an assay for the beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Activity was low in oocytes and zygotes and started to rise from the late 2-cell stage. By using alpha-amanitin, an inhibitor of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, we were able to show that the first embryonic mRNA transcriptions of the beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase genes take place between 38 and 46 h post HCG (early 2-cell stage) and between 46 and 54 h post HCG (late 2-cell stage).
Sermon
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Department of Medical Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
Nijs
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Lissens
W
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Van Steirteghem
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AC
Liebaers
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I
D000546:Amanitins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism*
D000546:Amanitins; D015415:Biomarkers; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases