MYC integrates FSH signalling networks in cumulus cells during bovine oocyte maturation

Abstract

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) contributes to the acquisition of oocyte competence by modulating signalling pathways in cumulus cells (CCs), albeit much less is known about transcription factors (TFs) that orchestrate the downstream transcriptional changes. This work allowed to prospect TFs involved in FSH-mediated signalling during oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM). Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes underwent IVM with FSH (FSH+) or without FSH (control/CTL) for 22 h, and CCs were subjected to gene expression profiling. Five software identified reference genes for RT-qPCR (ATP1A1, UBB, and YWHAZ). The transcript levels of FSH-responsive genes HAS2 and PTGS2 (COX2) validated the experimental design. Among candidate TFs, MYC was down-regulated (0.35-fold; P < 0.0001), and THAP11 (RONIN) was up-regulated (1.47-fold; P = 0.016) under FSH+ conditions. In silico analyses predicted binding motifs at MYC and THAP11 genes for previously known FSH-responsive TFs. Signalling pathways (EGFR, ERK, GSK3, PKA, and P38) may execute post-translational regulation due to potential phosphorylation sites in MYC and THAP11 proteins. Prediction of protein–protein interaction networks showed MYC as a core component of FSH signalling, albeit THAP11 acts independently. Hence, MYC integrates FSH signalling networks and may assist in exploring genome-wide transcriptional changes associated with the acquisition of oocyte competence.