title: Isolation, characterization and expression of the human Factor In the Germline alpha (FIGLA) gene in ovarian follicles and oocytes.
abstract: The Factor In the Germline alpha (FIGalpha) transcription factor regulates expression of the zona pellucida proteins ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3 and is essential for folliculogenesis in the mouse. Using the published mouse Figla sequence, BLAST searches identified a human chromosome 2 BAC clone with high sequence identity. Using PCR primers derived from this clone, amplicons derived from ovarian follicles and mature oocytes revealed 100% identity with the appropriate human BAC clone, the expected homology with the mouse Figla gene sequence, and homology on translation with the FIGalpha protein identified in the Japanese rice fish, medaka (Oryzias latipes). PCR expression profiling of this transcript revealed FIGLA mRNA expression in cDNA derived from ovarian follicles (5/5 samples from the primordial through to the secondary stage) mature oocytes (6/9 samples), and less frequently in preimplantation embryos (2/7 samples). Subsequent BLAST searches revealed the predicted full length coding sequence of the human FIGalpha protein which demonstrates 68 and 25% similarity overall to mouse and medaka proteins respectively, with 96 and 57% identity respectively within the basic helix-loop-helix region. This confirms our identification of the human homologue for this gene which maps to chromosome 2p12. Further work is required to understand its role in normal human oocyte development and the potential involvement in human infertility.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Leeds, D Floor, Clarendon Wing, Leeds General Infirmary, Belmont Grove, Leeds LS2 9NS, UK. medjhu@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huntriss
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gosden
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hinkins
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rutherford
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Picton
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004527:Egg Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins; C109920:Figla protein, mouse; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; C494174:Pou5f1 protein, mouse; C000606514:ZP1 protein, human; C000606515:ZP2 protein, human; C000606517:ZP3 protein, human; C000606519:Zp1 protein, mouse; C000606520:Zp2 protein, mouse; C000606521:Zp3 protein, mouse