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Halogenated nucleotide labeling of nascent RNAs reveals dynamic transcription in growing pig oocytes
Author(s) -
Oqani Reza K.,
Lee Min Gu,
Diao Yun Fei,
Han Rong Xun,
Jin Dong Il
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.23901
Subject(s) - biology , chromatin , transcription (linguistics) , prophase , microbiology and biotechnology , transcriptional regulation , meiosis , transcription factor , genetics , gene , linguistics , philosophy
Abstract Background : Germ cells differentiate into oocytes in females and are arrested at the first meiotic prophase. However, during arrest, oocytes undergo a growth phase leading to a dramatic increase in size, which is under control of transcription events. In the current study, we examined the transcriptional activity of growing pig oocytes using an immunocytochemical approach. Our data showed that fluorouridine (FU), a halogenated nucleotide, can be successfully incorporated into synthesizing RNAs and detected using a specific monoclonal antibody. Results : Using this method, we identified dynamic changes in transcriptional activity patterns in growing pig oocytes. Oocytes obtained from small follicles exhibited the highest level of transcription, while at the final phase of growth, transcription was no longer detected. These transcriptional changes were concomitant with chromatin compaction resulting in a tightly packed ring‐like chromatin conformation surrounding the nucleolar structure. Also, FU incorporation appeared sensitive to the biochemical manipulation of transcription, because transcriptional inhibitors induced a decrease in signal intensity from FU labeling and transcriptional activation caused an increase in FU signal intensity. Conclusions : Our data collectively support that a direct link exists between chromatin configuration and transcriptional activity in pig oocytes, and support the suitability of FU for studies on transcription‐related events in mammalian oocytes. Developmental Dynamics 242:16–22, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.