title: Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos.
abstract: 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).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sermon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nijs
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lissens
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Van Steirteghem
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liebaers
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000546:Amanitins; D015415:Biomarkers; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases