Along with the microfilaments (actins) and microtubules (tubulins), the intermediate filaments represent a third class of
well-characterized cytoskeletal elements. The subunits display a tissue-specific pattern of expression. Desmin (125660)
is the subunit specific for muscle and vimentin the subunit specific for mesenchymal tissue.
This gene is FSH suppressed. Identification of differential gene expression in in vitro FSH treated pig granulosa cells using suppression subtractive hybridization. Bonnet A et al. ABSTRACT: FSH, which binds to specific receptors on granulosa cells in mammals, plays a key role in folliculogenesis. Its biological activity involves stimulation of intercellular communication and upregulation of steroidogenesis, but the entire spectrum of the genes regulated by FSH has yet to be fully characterized. In order to find new regulated transcripts, however rare, we have used a Suppression Subtractive Hybridization approach (SSH) on pig granulosa cells in primary culture treated or not with FSH. Two SSH libraries were generated and 76 clones were sequenced after selection by differential screening. Sixty four different sequences were identified, including 3 novel sequences. Experiments demonstrated the presence of 25 regulated transcripts. A gene ontology analysis of these 25 genes revealed (1) catalytic; (2) transport; (3) signal transducer; (4) binding; (5) anti-oxidant and (6) structural activities. These findings may deepen our understanding of FSH's effects. Particularly, they suggest that FSH is involved in the modulation of peroxidase activity and remodelling of chromatin.
This gene interacts with nestin in the CNS.
NCBI Summary:
This gene encodes a member of the intermediate filament family. Intermediate filamentents, along with microtubules and actin microfilaments, make up the cytoskeleton. The protein encoded by this gene is responsible for maintaining cell shape, integrity of the cytoplasm, and stabilizing cytoskeletal interactions. It is also involved in the immune response, and controls the transport of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-derived cholesterol from a lysosome to the site of esterification. It functions as an organizer of a number of critical proteins involved in attachment, migration, and cell signaling. Mutations in this gene causes a dominant, pulverulent cataract.[provided by RefSeq, Jun 2009]
General function
Cytoskeleton
Comment
Cellular localization
Cytoplasmic, Cytoskeleton
Comment
Ovarian function
Follicle development, Early embryo development
, Pluripotent cell derivation
Comment
Proteomic Analysis of Fetal Ovary Reveals That Ovarian Developmental Potential Is Greater in Meishan Pigs than in Yorkshire Pigs. Xu M et al. (2015) Time-dependent expression of functional proteins in fetal ovaries is important to understand the developmental process of the ovary. This study was carried out to enhance our understanding of the developmental process of porcine fetal ovaries and to better address the differences in fetal ovary development of local and foreign pigs. The objective of the present study is to test the expression of key proteins that regulate the growth and development of fetal ovaries in Meishan and Yorkshire porcine breeds by using proteomics technology. Six Meishan and 6 Yorkshire pregnant gilts were used in this experiment. Fetal ovaries were obtained from Yorkshire and Meishan gilts on days 55 and 90 of the gestation period. Using 2D-DIGE (two dimensional-difference in gel electrophoresis) analysis, the results showed that there are about 1551 and 1400 proteins in gilt fetal ovaries on days 55 and 90, respectively of the gestation. Using MALDI TOF-TOF MS analysis, 27 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the fetal ovaries of the 2 breeds on day 55 of gestation, and a total of 18 proteins were identified on day 90 of gestation. These differentially expressed proteins were involved in the regulation of biological processes (cell death, stress response, cytoskeletal proteins) and molecular functions (enzyme regulator activity). We also found that alpha-1-antitrypsin, actin, vimentin, and PP2A proteins promote the formation of primordial follicles in the ovaries of Yorkshire pigs on day 55 of gestation while low expression heat shock proteins and high expression alpha-fetoproteins (AFP) may promote Meishan fetal ovarian follicular development on day 90 of gestation. These findings provide a deeper understanding of how reduced expression of heat shock proteins and increased expression of AFP can significantly reduce the risk of reproductive disease in obese Meishan sows. Our study also shows how these proteins can increase the ovulation rate and may be responsible for the low reproductive efficiency reported in other obese breeds. The ovarian developmental potential was found to be greater in Meishan pigs than in Yorkshire pigs.//////////////////
Identification and Characterization of an Oocyte Factor Required for Porcine Nuclear Reprogramming. Kong Q 2014 et al.
Nuclear reprogramming of somatic cell can be induced by oocyte factors. Despite numerous attempts, the factors responsible for successful nuclear reprogramming remain elusive. In the study, we found porcine oocytes with the 1st polarbody collected at 42 h of in vitro maturation (42O) had stronger ability to support early development of cloned embryos than porcine oocytes with the 1st polarbody collected at 33 h of in vitro maturation (33O). To explore the key reprogramming factors responsible for the difference, we compared proteome signatures of the two groups of oocytes. 18 differentially expressed proteins between these two groups of oocytes were discovered by mass spectrometry (MS). Among these proteins, we especially focused on vimentin (VIM). A certain amount of VIM protein was stored in oocytes and accumulated during oocyte maturation, and maternal VIM was specifically incorporated into transferred somatic nuclei during nuclear reprogramming. When maternal VIM function was inhibited by Anti-VIM antibody, the rate of cloned embryos developed to blastocysts was significantly lower than that of IgG antibody injected embryos and non-injected embryos (12.24 % v.s. 22.57 % and 21.10 %; P < 0.05), but the development of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and parthenogenetic activation (PA) embryos were not affected. Furthermore, we found DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) dramatically increased and p53 pathway was activated in cloned embryos when inhibition of VIM function. This study demonstrate maternal VIM, as a genomic protector, is crucial for nuclear reprogramming in porcine cloned embryos.
/////////////////////////
biomarkers for ovarian cancer risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and biomarker database integration. Galazis N et al. OBJECTIVE: To review and identify possible biomarkers for ovarian cancer (OC) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN: Systematic literature searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane using the search terms 'proteomics,' 'proteomic,' and 'ovarian cancer' or 'ovarian carcinoma.' Proteomic biomarkers for OC were then integrated with an updated previously published database of all proteomic biomarkers identified to date in patients with PCOS. SETTING: Academic department of obstetrics and gynecology in the United Kingdom. PATIENT(S): A total of 180 women identified in the six studies. INTERVENTION(S): Tissue samples from women with OC vs. tissue samples from women without OC. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Proteomic biomarkers, proteomic technique used, and methodologic quality score. RESULT(S): A panel of six biomarkers was overexpressed both in women with OC and in women with PCOS. These biomarkers include calreticulin, fibrinogen-?, superoxide dismutase, vimentin, malate dehydrogenase, and lamin B2. CONCLUSION(S): These biomarkers could help improve our understanding of the links between PCOS and OC and could potentially be used to identify subgroups of women with PCOS at increased risk of OC. More studies are required to further evaluate the role these biomarkers play in women with PCOS and OC.
Expression regulated by
LH
Comment
Dephosphorylation of MAP2D enhances its binding to vimentin in preovulatory ovarian granulosa cells. Flynn MP et al. (2016) Preovulatory granulosa cells express microtubule-associated protein(MAP) 2D. Luteinizing hormone(LH)/choriogonadotropin(CG) receptor activation by human(h) CG promotes dephosphorylation of MAP2D on Thr256/Thr259. We sought to evaluate the association of MAP2D with the cytoskeleton and the effect of hCG on this association. MAP2D partially co-localizes by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy with the vimentin intermediate filament and microtubule cytoskeletons in naive cells. In vitro binding studies show that MAP2D binds directly to vimentin and β-tubulin. Phosphorylation of recombinant MAP2D on Thr256/Thr259 that mimics the phosphorylation status of MAP2D in naive cells reduces binding of MAP2D to vimentin and tubulin 2- and 3-fold, respectively. hCG promotes PKA-dependent phosphorylation of vimentin(Ser32/Ser38), increased binding of vimentin to MAP2D, and contraction of granulosa cells with reorganization of vimentin filaments and MAP2D from the periphery into a thickened layer surrounding the nucleus and into prominent cellular extensions. Chemical disruption of vimentin filament organization increased progesterone production. Together these results suggest that hCG-stimulated dephosphorylation of MAP2D at Thr256/Thr259, phosphorylation of vimentin at Ser38/Ser72, and resulting enhanced binding of MAP2D to vimentin may contribute to the progesterone synthetic response required for ovulation.//////////////////
Ovarian localization
Granulosa
Comment
Changes in mouse granulosa cell gene expression during early luteinization. McRae RS et al. Changes in gene expression during granulosa cell luteinization have been measured using serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). Immature normal mice were treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) or PMSG followed, 48 h later, by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Granulosa cells were collected from preovulatory follicles after PMSG injection or PMSG/hCG injection and SAGE libraries generated from the isolated mRNA. The combined libraries contained 105,224 tags representing 40,248 unique transcripts. Overall, 715 transcripts showed a significant difference in abundance between the two libraries of which 216 were significantly down-regulated by hCG and 499 were significantly up-regulated. Among transcripts differentially regulated, there were clear and expected changes in genes involved in steroidogenesis as well as clusters of genes involved in modeling of the extracellular matrix, regulation of the cytoskeleton and intra and intercellular signaling. The SAGE libraries described here provide a base for functional investigation of the regulation of granulosa cell luteinization.
Follicle stages
Antral, Preovulatory
Comment
Liu HC, et al 2001 reported tha application of complementary DNA microarray (DNA chip) technology in the study of gene expression profiles during
folliculogenesis.
They used oligonucleotide microarray (DNA chip)-based hybridization
analysis to gain a comprehensive view of gene expression and regulation
involved in folliculogenesis.
Preantral follicles isolated from day 14 B6D2F-1 mice
were stimulated in vitro to form Graafian follicles. Total RNA extracted from
the mouse preantral and Graafian follicles were reverse transcribed, labeled
with digoxigenin-11-dUTP, and then hybridized with Clontech Atlas mouse cDNA
expression arrays for comparison. Of 588 known studied genes, 39 and 61 were detected in preantral follicles and in Graafian follicles, respectively, and 17 were highly
expressed consistently in both preantral and Graafian follicles. Performing
clustering analysis, 46 were upregulated as the follicles advanced to mature stages.
The VIMENTIN gene is up-regulated in the Graafian follicles.