Single-cell and bulk transcriptional profiling of mouse ovaries reveals novel genes and pathways associated with DNA damage response in oocytes.

Monique Mills, Chihiro Emori, Parveen Kumar, Zachary Boucher, Joshy George, Ewelina Bolcun-Filas

The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA; The Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA.The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA; The Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Immature oocytes enclosed in primordial follicles stored in female ovaries are under constant threat of DNA damage induced by endogenous and exogenous factors. Checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2) is a key mediator of the DNA damage response (DDR) in all cells. Genetic studies have shown that CHEK2 and its downstream targets, p53, and TAp63, regulate primordial follicle elimination in response to DNA damage. However, the mechanism leading to their demise is still poorly characterized. Single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing were used to determine the DDR in wild-type and Chek2-deficient ovaries. A low but oocyte-lethal dose of ionizing radiation induces ovarian DDR that is solely dependent on CHEK2. DNA damage activates multiple response pathways related to apoptosis, p53, interferon signaling, inflammation, cell adhesion, and intercellular communication. These pathways are differentially employed by different ovarian cell types, with oocytes disproportionately affected by radiation. Novel genes and pathways are induced by radiation specifically in oocytes, shedding light on their sensitivity to DNA damage, and implicating a coordinated response between oocytes and pregranulosa cells within the follicle. These findings provide a foundation for future studies on the specific mechanisms regulating oocyte survival in the context of aging, therapeutic and environmental genotoxic exposures.

The following analysis is generated by AI and may contain errors. It is separate from the authors’ abstract and is not peer review.

Research summary

The paper investigates the DNA damage response in oocytes, which is relevant to understanding mechanisms of oocyte survival and potential implications for fertility and aging. While it provides solid insights into the pathways involved in oocyte sensitivity to DNA damage, the findings are more incremental rather than groundbreaking, limiting its overall impact on the field of longevity research.

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