Abstract
Core binding factor (CBF) is a heterodimeric transcription factor complex composed of a DNAbinding subunit, one of three runt-related transcription factor (RUNX) factors, and a non-DNA binding subunit, CBFβ. CBFβ is critical for DNA binding and stability of the CBF transcription factor complex. In the ovary, the LH surge increases the expression of Runx1 and Runx2 in periovulatory follicles, implicating a role for CBFs in the periovulatory process. The present study investigated the functional significance of CBFs (RUNX1/CBFβ and RUNX2/CBFβ) in the ovary by examining the ovarian phenotype of granulosa cell-specific CBFβ knockdown mice; CBFβ f/f * Cyp19 cre. The mutant female mice exhibited significant reductions in fertility, with smaller litter sizes, decreased progesterone during gestation, and fewer cumulus oocyte complexes collected after an induced superovulation. RNA sequencing and transcriptome assembly revealed altered expression of more than 200 mRNA transcripts in the granulosa cells of Cbfb knockdown mice after human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation in vitro. Among the affected transcripts are known regulators of ovulation and luteinization including Sfrp4, Sgk1, Lhcgr, Prlr, Wnt4, and Edn2 as well as many genes not yet characterized in the ovary. Cbfβ knockdown mice also exhibited decreased expression of key genes within the corpora lutea and morphological changes in the ovarian structure, including the presence of large antral follicles well into the luteal phase. Overall, these data suggest a role for CBFs as significant regulators of gene expression, ovulatory processes, and luteal development in the ovary.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 733-747 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Molecular Endocrinology |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2016 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2016 by the Endocrine Society.
Funding
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants RO1HD061617, RO3HD066012, and PO1HD71875.
Funders | Funder number |
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National Institutes of Health (NIH) | RO3HD066012, PO1HD71875 |
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development | R01HD061617 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Endocrinology