Video 2: ASPM is required to prevent lagging chromosomes in oocytes
FromLive imaging RNAi screen reveals genes essential for meiosis in mammalian oocytes
- Sybille Pfender1, *
- Vitaliy Kuznetsov1, *
- Michał Pasternak1, *
- Thomas Tischer1,
- Balaji Santhanam1,
- Melina Schuh1,
- Journal name:
- Nature
- Volume:
- 524,
- Pages:
- 239–242
- Date published:
- DOI:
- doi:10.1038/nature14568
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Live oocytes microinjected with control siRNA (Control) or siRNAs targeting Aspm (Aspm RNAi) expressing mEGFP-α-tubulin (green, microtubules) and H2B-mRFP (magenta, chromosomes).More videos from this article
Additional data
Author footnotes
These authors contributed equally to this work.
- Sybille Pfender,
- Vitaliy Kuznetsov &
- Michał Pasternak
Affiliations
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Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
- Sybille Pfender,
- Vitaliy Kuznetsov,
- Michał Pasternak,
- Thomas Tischer,
- Balaji Santhanam &
- Melina Schuh
Contributions
All authors analysed data. S.P. microinjected the majority of siRNA mixes, and identified, validated and characterized most genes; M.P. microinjected siRNA mixes, compared the developmental capacity and expression profile of oocytes grown in vitro and in vivo, and identified, validated and characterized several genes; V.K. microinjected siRNA mixes and wrote software in OriginPro to quantify phenotypes; T.T. validated and characterized Dusp7; B.S. did all bioinformatics analyses; V.K. and M.S. developed and established the strategy of the screen; M.S. wrote the manuscript; S.P., M.P., T.T. and B.S. commented on and edited the manuscript; M.P. and M.S. prepared the revised manuscript; M.S. supervised the study.
Competing financial interests
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
RNA sequencing data have been deposited in Gene Expression Omnibus under accession number GSE68150.
Author details
Sybille Pfender
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Vitaliy Kuznetsov
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Michał Pasternak
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Thomas Tischer
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Balaji Santhanam
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Melina Schuh
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Extended Data Figure 1: Efficiency of follicle growth and comparison of oocytes grown in vitro and in vivo.Hover over figure to zoom
a, Follicles before (top panel) and after (bottom panel) in vitro culture. The perimeters of oocyte and granulosa cells are highlighted on the right. The follicle diameter increases from 103.4 ± 11.3 µm to 314.1 ± 104.0 µm during in vitro culture. This lies between the diameter of in vivo grown early antral (~248 µm) and Graafian (~424 µm) mouse follicles26. The diameter of n follicles was measured before and after in vitro culture and is displayed as mean ± s.d. Measurements from three or two independent experiments for before and after culture, respectively. b, Diameter of oocytes grown in vivo or in vitro. Data from two and seven experiments, respectively. The box plot shows median (line), mean (small square), 5th, 95th (whiskers) and 25th and 75th percentile (boxes). c, Efficiency of follicle growth on different culture substrates. The numbers of independent experiments are 343, 56, 11 and 3 from left to right. The total number of follicles is specified above the bars. Error bars, s.d. d, Live oocyte expressing eGFP–MAP4 (green, microtubules) and H2B–mRFP (magenta, chromosomes). The characteristic time points of oocyte maturation that were determined for each oocyte in the screen (2,241 oocytes in total from 70 experiments) are listed above the representative images. Quantification of timing in e. Scale bar, 10 µm. e, The timing of bipolar spindle assembly, chromosome alignment during meiosis I, anaphase, polar body extrusion and chromosome alignment during meiosis II were quantified in oocytes obtained from 5-week-old (C57BL × CBA) F1 females or in oocytes from the same strain grown in vitro within follicles. Data from four independent experiments. Error bars, s.d. f, Transmitted light images of blastocysts derived from fertilized (C57BL × CBA) F1 oocytes grown in vitro within follicles (left) or in vivo (right). Scale bar, 20 µm. Quantifications in g. g, (C57BL × CBA) F1 oocytes grown in vitro within follicles or in vivo were denuded, matured in vitro and fertilized. The percentages of all oocytes (fertilized and unfertilized) that developed into two-cell embryos (two-cell from total) and two-cell embryos that developed into blastocysts (blastocyst from total) were quantified. Developmental rates are consistent with previous studies, in which in vitro matured denuded oocytes were fertilized27, 28; 179 oocytes grown in vivo and 180 oocytes grown in vitro were analysed in total. Data from three independent experiments for each group. Error bars, s.d. h, Transmitted light images of control oocytes and oocytes microinjected with an siRNA mix targeting Zp3 together with 11 other genes (RNAi Mix against Zp3) or an siRNA mix microinjected at the same time that targeted 12 other genes (RNAi mix against other genes). Highlighted region is magnified below. Scale bar, 10 µm. Quantification of phenotype in i. i, The presence of the zona pellucida was scored in oocytes microinjected with control siRNA (control), an siRNA mix targeting one of the three Zp genes (Zp1, Zp2 or Zp3) together with 11 other genes and an siRNA mix microinjected at the same time that targeted 12 different genes (RNAi mix against other genes). The number of analysed oocytes is given next to bars.
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Extended Data Figure 2: Transcriptome analysis of oocytes grown in vivo and in vitro.Hover over figure to zoom
a–c, Transcriptome analysis of oocytes grown in vitro and in vivo. a, Differentially expressed genes in oocytes grown in vitro based on evaluation using NOISeq algorithm. Transcript abundances are reported in transcript FPKM. Only about 2% (213 out of 11,470) of genes were differentially expressed. b, Differentially expressed genes in oocytes cultured in vitro based on evaluation using DESeq2 algorithm. Only about 4% (445 genes out of 10,597) of genes were differentially expressed after applying filters in both b and c. The blue lines indicate genes with at least twofold change in expression. Red colour indicates differentially expressed genes with the denoted probability. For details, see Methods. c, The overlap between NOISeq and DESeq2 results, presented as Venn diagrams. There is at least over 80% overlap in genes in either upregulated or downregulated groups for both NOISeq and DESeq2. d, Qualitative network of phenotypes in oocytes microinjected with siRNA mixes. Blue nodes represent siRNA mixes, purple nodes represent phenotypes. Grey lines between mixes and phenotypes denote if at least one oocyte microinjected with a given mix displayed the phenotype. The clusters indicate a close relationship between a set of phenotypes and mixes. The clusters were obtained using ClusterViz (https://code.google.com/p/clusterviz-cytoscape/) of Cytoscape, which encodes the MCODE method to identify clusters of closed related nodes based on the topology of the network. The network contains six clusters identified by ClusterViz.
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Extended Data Figure 3: Description of defects scored in screen.Hover over figure to zoom
a, Scheme illustrating the main categories of defects that were quantified in the screen. b, Table listing the main categories of defects and their subcategories as well as a description of each defect. c, Table listing the numerical values that were measured in the screen and a description of each numerical value.
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Extended Data Figure 4: Defects during meiosis II in siRNA-treated oocytes.Hover over figure to zoom
a, d, g, The frequency of cytokinetic defects (a), spindle defects in metaphase II (d) and chromosome defects in metaphase II (g) were scored in siRNA-treated oocytes. The absolute number of oocytes with each defect is given next to bars. Data from 70 independent experiments. Corresponding control data are shown in Extended Data Fig. 5. b, e, h, Examples of defects in live oocytes. Chromosomes (magenta) were labelled with H2B–mRFP, microtubules (green) with eGFP–α-tubulin. Quantifications in a, d, g. Scale bars, 10 µm. c, f, i, The z-scores were calculated as the deviation of the mean of a single siRNA mix to the mean of all controls of the RNAi screen, normalized to the s.d. of all controls. siRNA mixes were sorted according to their z-score. The dashed line delineates mixes with a z-score higher than two s.d. above the average value of all controls. j, List of genes that were tracked down to the individual gene level in the RNAi screen. Note that defects caused by depletion of some proteins such as Zfp420 or Uhrf1 may reflect the function of more proximal genes under the control of these proteins. We were able to allocate 16 out of 20 tested defects to individual genes. Defects that could not be tracked down to individual gene level are shown as grey bars ending after the second or third round.
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Extended Data Figure 5: Frequency of meiosis I and meiosis II defects in oocytes treated with control siRNAs.Hover over figure to zoom
a–g, The frequency of scored general morphological defects (a), spindle defects in meiosis I (b), chromosome defects in meiosis I (c), defects in anaphase I (d), defects during cytokinesis (e), spindle defects in meiosis II (f) and chromosome defects in meiosis II (g) were scored in oocytes microinjected with control siRNAs. The absolute number of oocytes with each defect is given next to bars.
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Extended Data Figure 6: Eif4enif1 is required for release from prophase arrest and Birc5 for spindle integrity.Hover over figure to zoom
a, Live oocytes microinjected with control siRNA (control) or siRNAs targeting Eif4enif1 (Eif4enif1 RNAi) expressing eGFP–α-tubulin (green, microtubules) and H2B–mRFP (magenta, chromosomes) merged with differential interference contrast (DIC) image. Region of spindle and chromosomes is magnified without DIC below. Quantification of phenotype in b. Scale bar, 10 µm. b, Live oocytes microinjected with control siRNA or Eif4enif1 siRNAs were monitored by long-term time-lapse microscopy as shown in a and the efficiency of NEBD was scored. The number of analysed oocytes is specified next to bars. The P value was calculated with Fisher’s exact test. Data from a total of three experiments. c, Live oocytes microinjected with control siRNA (control) or siRNAs targeting Birc5 (Birc5 RNAi) expressing eGFP–α-tubulin (green, microtubules) and H2B–mRFP (magenta, chromosomes) merged with DIC. Region of spindle and chromosomes is magnified without DIC below. Quantification of phenotypes in d–g. Scale bar, 10 µm. d, Live oocytes microinjected with control siRNA (control), a mix of three different Birc5 siRNAs (siRNA 1–3) or two Birc5 siRNAs individually (siRNA 1, 2) were scored for temporary or permanent disintegration of the meiotic spindle. The number of analysed oocytes is specified next to bars. The P value was calculated with Fisher’s exact test comparing control and all Birc5 siRNA microinjected oocytes from five experiments. e–g, Live oocytes microinjected with control siRNA or Birc5 siRNAs were monitored by long-term time-lapse microscopy as shown in c and the efficiency of NEBD (e), the presence or absence of misaligned chromosomes (f) as well as the efficiency of chromosome segregation (g) were scored. The number of analysed oocytes is specified next to bars. P values were calculated with Fisher’s exact test. Data (d–g) from five independent experiments.
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Extended Data Figure 7: Aspm function in mouse oocytes.Hover over figure to zoom
a, Oocytes microinjected with siRNAs targeting Aspm or injected with control siRNA. Microtubules in green, chromosomes in magenta. Arrows highlight lagging chromosomes. Quantification of phenotypes in b–g. Scale bar, 10 µm. b, c, Lagging (b) or misaligned chromosomes (c) in oocytes microinjected with different Aspm siRNAs. d–g, Live oocytes microinjected with control siRNA (control) or Aspm siRNAs (Aspm RNAi) were monitored by long-term time-lapse microscopy as shown in a and scored for progression through anaphase (d), time of anaphase onset (e), polar body extrusion (f) and spindle length (g). The number of analysed oocytes is specified next to bars. The P value was calculated with Fisher’s exact test (b, c, d, f) or Student’s t-test (e, g) comparing control and all Aspm siRNA microinjected oocytes. The box plots in e and g show median (line), mean (small square), 5th, 95th (whiskers) and 25th and 75th percentile (boxes). Data from four independent experiments.
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Extended Data Figure 8: Mastl is required for metaphase II arrest and accurate chromosome segregation, but is dispensable for cytokinesis and chromosome condensation in mouse oocytes.Hover over figure to zoom
a, Live oocytes microinjected with control siRNA (control) or siRNAs targeting Mastl (Mastl RNAi) expressing eGFP–Lamin B1 (green, nuclear lamina) and H2B–mRFP (magenta, chromosomes) merged with DIC. Representative of 30 control and 16 Mastl RNAi oocytes. Scale bar, 10 µm. b, c, Live oocytes microinjected with a mix of three different Mastl siRNAs expressing human Greatwall fused with eGFP (green) and H2B–mRFP (magenta, chromosomes) merged with DIC. eGFP–Greatwall localized to the nucleus and was released into the cytoplasm shortly before NEBD, consistent with previous studies in mitotic cells29, 30. Representative of 23 oocytes. Quantification in Fig. 3f. Scale bar, 10 µm. d–g, Live oocytes microinjected with control siRNA or Mastl siRNAs were monitored by long-term time-lapse microscopy and scored for anaphase progression (d), time of anaphase onset (e), successful formation or retraction of a polar body upon anaphase (f) and the prolonged presence of a midbody upon cytokinesis (g). The number of analysed oocytes is specified next to bars. Data from five independent experiments. h, Maximum z-projection (left) and three-dimensional reconstruction (right) of chromosomes (Hoechst) in fixed mouse oocytes microinjected with control siRNAs or siRNAs targeting Mastl were generated in Imaris. Quantification in i. i, The chromosome volume was quantified in mouse oocytes microinjected with control siRNAs or siRNAs targeting Mastl as shown in h in Imaris. The number of analysed oocytes is specified next to bars. Data from two independent experiments. j, Mastl mRNA levels in control oocytes and oocytes microinjected with Mastl siRNAs were quantified by real-time PCR. Mean values from two independent experiments. P values were calculated with Fisher’s exact test (d, f, g) or Student’s t-test (e, i). The box plots in e and j show median (line), mean (small square), 5th, 95th (whiskers) and 25th and 75th percentile (boxes).
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Extended Data Figure 9: Systematic analysis of phenotype correlations in mouse oocytes.Hover over figure to zoom
a, b, Heatmap representation of clusters of phenotypes generated based on Jaccard indices between them. Jaccard indices, range between 0 and 1, were calculated as described in Methods and Extended Data Fig. 10. Jaccard indices calculated from control oocytes (a) and RNAi-treated oocytes (b) are shown. The ‘red’ and ‘blue’ respectively correspond to high and low Jaccard indices as indicated by the legend. Clusters of phenotypes were generated using Pheatmap with ‘Pearson correlation’ values and ‘average’ clustering input parameters.
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Extended Data Figure 10: Network of phenotypes and calculation of Jaccard indices.Hover over figure to zoom
a, Network of phenotype to oocytes was converted into a phenotype–phenotype network based on number of oocytes that display two phenotypes in question. The network consists of 53 phenotypes and 867 connections between them. The nodes in the network denote phenotypes and edges denote shared oocytes. This is a qualitative network and does not consider the strength of connection, edge weight or number of oocytes in which a given pair of phenotypes co-occurs. Nodes of identical colours denote a cluster (a group of related phenotypes based on topological properties of the network). Phenotypes that are not part of any cluster are in the centre and indicated by squares (white). Related clusters (if they share phenotypes) are marked by dashed circles considered as ‘superclusters’. Clusters were identified by the NeMo method in Cytoscape. Network clusters are purely based on topological properties and are in agreement with the clusters in the heatmap constructed using quantitative measures of Jaccard indices (Extended Data Fig. 9a): for example, two superclusters, top left and top right respectively, correspond to heatmap clusters at the top left and middle of Extended Data Fig. 9a. b–d, Overview of computational approach with schematics to decipher phenotype clusters. Oi, Mi and Ni correspond to oocyte i, mix i and numerical value of phenotype i, respectively. b, Conversion of yes, no and numerical data depicts the way we converted a combination of ‘yes’, ‘no’ and numerical data (denoted by N1, N2, N3 and N4) of phenotypes across oocytes into purely ‘yes’ and ‘no’ groups with the ‘yes’ group further classified as ‘yes+’ and ‘yes−’. c, Reconstruction of the phenotype–oocyte network: we reconstructed a phenotype–oocyte network from the above data of ‘yes’ and ‘no’ values by considering only the ‘yes’ group. A nonlinear decay relationship between the number of phenotypes and number of oocytes in the network is displayed as represented by two plots. Details of the plots suggest a median value of 2 for phenotypes. d, Network transformation and calculation of Jaccard index matrix illustrate our network transformation strategy from a phenotype–oocyte network to a phenotype–phenotype network and the simultaneous estimation of Jaccard indices between phenotypes. The matrix of Jaccard indices between phenotypes was clustered using the pheatmap software in the R package with the ‘Pearson correlation’ parameter and the ‘average’ clustering method.
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Video 1: DUSP7 is required to release oocytes from prophase arrestLive oocytes microinjected with control siRNA (Control) or siRNAs targeting Dusp7 alone (Dusp7 RNAi) or with mRNA encoding EGFP-DUSP7, H2B-mRFP (magenta, chromosomes) merged with DIC.
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Video 2: ASPM is required to prevent lagging chromosomes in oocytesLive oocytes microinjected with control siRNA (Control) or siRNAs targeting Aspm (Aspm RNAi) expressing mEGFP-α-tubulin (green, microtubules) and H2B-mRFP (magenta, chromosomes).