title: Expression and localization of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K in mouse ovaries and preimplantation embryos.
abstract: Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K), an evolutionarily conserved protein, is involved in several important cellular processes that are relevant to cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and cancer development. However, details of hnRNP K expression during mammalian oogenesis and preimplantation embryo development are lacking. The present study investigates the expression and cellular localization of K protein in the mouse ovaries and preimplantation embryos using immunostaining. We demonstrate, for the first time, that hnRNP K is abundantly expressed in the nuclei of mouse oocytes in primordial, primary and secondary follicles. In germ vesicle (GV)-stage oocytes, hnRNP K accumulates in the germinal vesicle in a spot distribution manner. After germinal vesicle breakdown, speckled hnRNP K is diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm. However, after fertilization, the K protein relocates into the female and male pronucleus and persists in the blastomere nuclei. Localization of K protein in the human ovary and ovarian granulosa cell tumor (GCT) was also investigated. Overall, this study provides important morphological evidence to better understand the possible roles of hnRNP K in mammalian oogenesis and early embryo development.
authors: The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Ningling
authors: N
authors: Wang
authors: The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Xianhua
authors: X
authors: Lin
authors: The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Jin
authors: The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: xuhong1168@126.com.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Xu
authors: The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Li
authors: The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: huanghefg@hotmail.com.
authors: Hefeng
authors: H
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D034641:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D034641:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear
keywords: Embryo; HnRNP K; Oocyte; Transcription