Study of protein and epigenetic profile of bovine sperm nucleus with effect on in vitro embryo production

• Grant number: 15/14146-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2015
• End date: January 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Mayra Elena Ortiz D' Avila Assumpcao
• Grantee: Letícia Signori de Castro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/12891-8 - Study of sperm histone modifications and its relationship with bull in vitro fertility, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

In vitro embryos production (IVP) stands out as reproductive biotechnology in cattle herds, but still with some limitations. The difference between bulls fertility is one of them and only a few studies aimed to understand which aspects characterize this difference. The sperm cell carries besides the paternal DNA, the entire nucleus content attached to it, so it is important to understand better the composition of sperm nucleus and the changes that go beyond the sequence of bases, such as epigenetic signals. According to this, the aim of this study is to identify which sperm nucleus features characterize the difference between bulls on in vitro production rates. A data base of IVP from commercial bulls will be used to select bulls with high and low fertility. Once established these groups, it will be evaluate the chromatin integrity (SCSA modified, CMA3, aniline blue test and COMET assay), nuclear protein profile (2D-DIGE and identification of differentially expressed proteins) and epigenetic signals (global assessment DNA methylation and histone evaluation of genes related to embryonic development) between these two groups.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CASTRO, L. S.; SIQUEIRA, A. F. P.; HAMILTON, T. R. S.; MENDES, C. M.; VISINTIN, J. A.; ASSUMPCAO, M. E. O. A.. Effect of bovine sperm chromatin integrity evaluated using three different methods on in vitro fertility. Theriogenology, v. 107, p. 142-148, FEB 2018. (15/14146-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CASTRO, Letícia Signori de. Study of protein and epigenetic profile of bovine sperm nucleus with impact on in vitro embryo production. 2019. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD) São Paulo.