Role of TFAP2C transcription factor in the initial bovine embryonic development

• Grant number: 24/14065-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Demarchi Goissis
• Grantee: Francieli Perroni Berling
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/06051-8 - Effects of metabolic modulations on the initial cell differentiation of bovine embryos, AP.R

Abstract

Biological processes triggered after zygote formation lead to the formation of blastocyst with two established cell lines, internal cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE), which will give rise to the fetus and placenta, respectively. Understanding the mechanisms involved in this process of cell differentiation in bovine species is essential to obtain better results in in vitro production of embryos. Previous studies have shown the direct relationship of the transcription factor TFAP2C in these processes, however there is evidence that in the bovine the mechanisms of action differ from other species. Given this, we aim to understand the role of TFAP2C in the first cell differentiation in bovine. The hypothesis of this study is that TFAP2C initially acts on the regulation of genes linked to ICM and subsequently regulated genes linked to the TE. To test this hypothesis, TFAP2C we will assess gene expression and protein expression dynamics at various embryonic stages. Subsequently, we will reduce TFAP2C expression using CRISPR/CAS9 or increase TFAP2C expression using complementary RNA (cRNA) in in vitro produced embryos. We also intend to pharmacologically modulate the expression of TFAP2C in different development windows using sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). This project is expected to characterize the function of TFAP2C in the formation of ICM and TE, providing subsidies for possible modulation of cell differentiation during in vitro production of bovine embryos.