Effects of metabolic modulations on the initial cell differentiation of bovine embryos

• Grant number: 23/06051-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Demarchi Goissis
• Grantee: Marcelo Demarchi Goissis
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Marcella Pecora Milazzotto ; Mayra Elena Ortiz D' Avila Assumpcao
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/09176-1 - Dynamics of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors gene expression in in vitro-produced bovine embryos, BP.IC; 24/04778-0 - Effect of mTOR pathway inhibition during embryonic culture on trophectoderm differentiation in bovine embryos, BP.MS; 24/14065-1 - Role of TFAP2C transcription factor in the initial bovine embryonic development, BP.DR; 24/10409-8 - Role of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway on the trophectoderm differentiation of in vitro produced bovine embryos, BP.IC; 24/10421-8 - Effect of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibition on trophectoderm differentiation in bovine embryos, BP.IC

Abstract

The first cell differentiation event during mammalian embryonic development results in the formation of the trophectoderm (TE) and the inner cell mass (ICM). For this biological event to occur, there must be spatial and temporal control of the expression of specific transcription factors. This control may involve different types of regulation, including the activation of specific metabolic pathways, which were not studied yet in this context in bovine embryos. Thus, the current project aims to study the role of metabolic pathways in the differentiation of the TE in bovine embryos. It includes experiments to test hypotheses related to glucose metabolization and mTOR signaling. The pentose phosphate pathway, the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway and, the mTOR signaling pathway will be inhibited or stimulated during embryo culture. The resulting embryos will be evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR and confocal microscopy to assess the response of transcription factors and other involved genes in this differentiation process. It is expected that this project will lead to a better understanding of the roles of glucose metabolism pathways and mTOR signaling on the differentiation of the TE. The current project may assist in the modulation of cell differentiation of in vitro-produced bovine embryos. (AU)