c-Abl Plays an Important Role in Mouse Preimplantation Embryo Development and the Dysregulation Associated With Decreased mTERT Expression


YILDIRIM POLAT E., Onel T., Yaba A.

Molecular Reproduction and Development, cilt.92, sa.6, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 92 Sayı: 6
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1002/mrd.70039
  • Dergi Adı: Molecular Reproduction and Development
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: c-Abl, mouse, mTERT, preimplantation embryo
  • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

c-Abl encodes a cytoplasmic and nuclear protein tyrosine kinase that has been implicated in processes of cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, division, and regulation of cytoskeletal structure. mTERT is a catalytic subunit of mouse telomerase and it is very important for controlling cell proliferation and homeostasis by maintaining telomere length. We demonstrated before the interaction between c-Abl and mTERT in mouse ovary and we suggested a role for c-Abl in the regulation of telomerase function and proliferation in mouse granulosa cells. The current study aims to examine the c-Abl and mTERT expression and potential interactions through mouse preimplantation embryonic development. To assess c-Abl's function in embryonic development, siRNA-mediated silencing of the c-Abl was used in mouse preimplantation embryos. After siRNA transfection, the immunofluorescence was used to examine the c-Abl pattern at embryonic development. Next, the levels of mTERT and c-Abl mRNA were compared. The results show that c-Abl is expressed in mouse preimplantation embryos at all developmental stages, with the cytoplasmic expression all through from the 2-cell to the blastocyst. Additionally, c-Abl is presented very intense expression in blastomer-blastomer junctions. The siRNA-mediated depletion of c-Abl showed developmental abnormalities at the 8- to 16-cell and morula to blastocyst and also with significantly decreased blastocyst development rate. Moreover, expression of the mTERT telomerase catalytic subunit was significantly reduced in c-Abl-depleted embryos during preimplantation embryonic development. Finally, we demonstrate that c-Abl may play a crucial role in compaction and preimplantation embryo development, and that the relationship between c-Abl and mTERT has developmental importance in early embryogenesis.