title: Exploring the function of long non-coding RNA in the development of bovine early embryos.
abstract: Now recognised as part of the cellular transcriptome, the function of long non-coding (lnc) RNA remains unclear. Previously, we found that some lncRNA molecules in bovine embryos are highly responsive to culture conditions. In view of a recent demonstration that lncRNA may play a role in regulating important functions, such as maintenance of pluripotency, modification of epigenetic marks and activation of transcription, we sought evidence of its involvement in embryogenesis. Among the numerous catalogued lncRNA molecules found in oocytes and early embryos of cattle, three candidates chosen for further characterisation were found unexpectedly in the cytoplasmic compartment rather than in the nucleus. Transcriptomic survey of subcellular fractions found these candidates also associated with polyribosomes and one of them spanning transzonal projections between cumulus cells and the oocyte. Knocking down this transcript in matured oocytes increased developmental rates, leading to larger blastocysts. Transcriptome and methylome analyses of these blastocysts showed concordant data for a subset of four genes, including at least one known to be important for blastocyst survival. Functional characterisation of the roles played by lncRNA in supporting early development remains elusive. Our results suggest that some lncRNAs play a role in translation control of target mRNA. This would be important for managing the maternal reserves within which is embedded the embryonic program, especially before embryonic genome activation.
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gagné
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scantland
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Angus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macaulay
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences animales, Centre de recherche en biologie de la reproduction, Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary; D005453:Fluorescence; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000662:veterinary*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D011132:Polyribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding