Abstract

BackgroundOvarian follicle fluid (FF) as a microenvironment surrounding oocyte plays critical roles in physio-biochemical processes of follicle development and oocyte maturation. It is hypothesized that proteins in yak FF participate in the physio-biochemical pathways. The primary aims of this study were to find differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between mature and immature FF, and to elucidating functions of the mature and immature FF in yak.ResultsThe mature and immature FF samples were obtained from three healthy yaks that were nonpregnant, aged from four to five years, and free from any anatomical reproductive disorders. The FF samples were subjected to mass spectrometry with the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ). The FF samples went through correlation analysis, principle component analysis, and expression pattern analysis based on quantification of the identified proteins. Four hundred sixty-three DEPs between mature and immature FF were identified. The DEPs between the mature and immature FF samples underwent gene ontology (GO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. The DEPs highly expressed in the mature FF mainly took parts in the complement and coagulation cascades, defense response, acute-phase response, response to other organism pathways to avoid invasion of exogenous microorganisms. The complement activation pathway contains eight DEPs, namely C2, C5, C6, C7, C9, C4BPA, CFH, and MBL2. The three DEPs, CATHL4, CHGA, and PGLYRP1, take parts in defense response pathway to prevent invasion of exogenetic microorganism. The coagulation cascades pathway involves many coagulation factors, such as F7, F13A1, FGA, FGB, FGG, KLKB1, KNG1, MASP1, SERPINA1, and SERPIND1. While the DEPs highly expressed in the immature FF participated in protein translation, peptide biosynthetic process, DNA conformation change, and DNA geometric change pathways to facilitate follicle development. The translation pathway contains many ribosomal proteins, such as RPL3, RPL5, RPS3, RPS6, and other translation factors, such as EIF3J, EIF4G2, ETF1, MOV10, and NARS. The DNA conformation change and DNA geometric change involve nine DEPs, DDX1, G3BP1, HMGB1, HMGB2, HMGB3, MCM3, MCM5, MCM6, and RUVBL2. Furthermore, the expressed levels of the main DEPs, C2 and SERPIND1, were confirmed by western blot.ConclusionsThe differential proteomics revealed the up-regulated DEPs in mature FF take parts in immunoreaction to prevent invasion of microorganisms and the up-regulated DEPs in immature FF participate in protein synthesis, which may improve our knowledge of the follicular microenvironment and its biological roles for reproductive processes in yak. The DEPs, C2 and SERPIND1, can be considered as protein markers for mature yak follicle.

Highlights

  • Ovarian follicle fluid (FF) as a microenvironment surrounding oocyte plays critical roles in physio-biochemical processes of follicle development and oocyte maturation

  • The primary aim of this study was to search for protein composition differences between mature and immature yak FF by the leading-edge proteomic method, in order to identify proteins that may hold a key to the reproductive process and further may be identified as potential biomarkers for follicle/oocyte quality

  • Proteomic changes between mature and immature follicle fluid The enriched samples were subjected to isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) analysis to find Differentially expressed protein (DEP) between mature and immature FF

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Summary

Introduction

Ovarian follicle fluid (FF) as a microenvironment surrounding oocyte plays critical roles in physio-biochemical processes of follicle development and oocyte maturation. It is hypothesized that proteins in yak FF participate in the physio-biochemical pathways. As a member of bovidae family, yak (Bos grunniens) is an only bovine breed that adapts to severe cold and low oxygen levels in high altitude regions ranging from 2,500 m to 5,500 m [1]. Over ninety percent of the global yak population distributes in plateau areas of China, which are characterized by their high elevations, pristine natural environments, and extreme seasonal variations [2]. Transport, shelter and fuel for nomads living in the plateau regions [3, 4]. Reproductive efficiency of female yak is determined by normal follicle development, oocyte maturation, and ovulation. As a highly seasonal breeding animal, yaks generally have a long interval from calving to the conceiving. A minority of yaks return to estrus in the following breeding season, and most yaks begin the shift from a non-reproductive status to a reproductive status in the second, even in the third year [5]

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