The role of eEF1A1 gene (Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 1A1) on the developmental competence and quality of in vitro-produced bovine embryos

• Grant number: 23/15187-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Mateus José Sudano
• Grantee: Rogério Amorim dos Reis
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/21496-8 - Pathways for embryo-derived pregnancy, AP.JP

Abstract

The eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A1 (eEF1A1) is a protein expressed during the embryonic phase that acts in processes such as embryogenesis and proliferation of the cell cycle, however, an association between this expression and the oxidative stress and apoptosis pathways has already been reported. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of attenuation and indirect induction of eEF1A1 expression about the development and quality of in vitro-produced bovine embryos. Therefore three experiments will be conducted, using in vitro-produced bovine embryos, with the following objectives: 1) to evaluate the impact of oxidative stress induction on the expression profile of the eEF1A1 gene and its effects throughout embryonic development; 2) to evaluate the effect of attenuation of eEF1A1 expression and its indirect stimulation on embryonic development and 3) to evaluate the mechanism of embryonic response to the induction of oxidative stress associated with gene knockdown. Evaluations of the rates of embryo production, gene expression, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and internal cell mass (ICM) : trophoectoderma (TE) ratio will be carried out. The data obtained related to the production of embryos, apoptosis and evaluation of the transcripts will be evaluated by ANOVA or logistic regression, considering the treatments as fixed effects and the replicates as random effects, using the SAS software. If necessary, the data will be contrasted using the probability of individual difference (PDIFF). A significance level of 5% will be adopted.