Construction of protein–protein interaction network based on transcriptome profiling of ovine granulosa cells during the sheep’s anestrus phase

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Small antral follicles as the final reserve of folliculogenesis, are existed throughout the reproductive life span of sheep. However, the ovarian cycles of ewe cease in the anestrus phase. This study was aimed to elucidate the ovarian small antral follicles transcriptome in the ewe’s anestrus phase.

METHODS: Granulosa cells of small antral follicles (≤3 mm) were collected from two groups of Mehraban ewes under long days of summer in the non-breeding season as anestrus phase. Transcriptome profiling of these granulosa cells were obtained using the RNA-Seq technology. An integrative analysis was utilized to identify key regulatory genes which may have potential impacts on intra-ovarian molecular activities.

RESULTS: Globally, 14506 genes were expressed whose higher expressions belonged to genes that encoded ribosomal proteins. Top significant terms of gene ontology were pertained to protein translational processes. Apart of this, most of highly significant terms were also relevant to apoptotic process through extracellular vesicles, including apoptotic bodies and exosomes. Regarding to node effect property, UBA52 (ubiquitin A-52 residue ribosomal protein fusion product 1) and RPS5 (ribosomal proteins S5) contained in highest out-degree and in-degree, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that ribosomal mRNA/proteins could make the granulosa cells undergo a lot of changes from the point of view that ovarian activities are ceased in the anestrus phase.

Key words： RNA-sequencing; ovarian follicles; anestrus phase; protein-protein interaction network; functional modules

Acknowledgments

R.T. would like to special thanks to the Dr. Stéphane Fabre, PhD–HDR in INRA research center in Castanet-Tolosan, France, and the staff of the GeT-Genotoul genomic platform (http://get/genotoul.fr) for the RNA sequencing, and Sarah Maman of the INRA Sigenae bioinformatics team for Galaxy support. R.T. also thanks Julien Sarry, technician assistance from INRA-GenPhySE research center in Castanet-Tolosan, France, for prepared the RNAseq libraries. Authors wanted to thank Dr. Abbas Farahavar, PhD in Bu-Ali Sina University of Hamedan, Iran, due to his assistances in collecting the mural granulosa cell.

‚This work has been supported by a PhD grant from “Bu-Ali Sina University” and “Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute” from Iran.

Compliance with ethics guidelines

All procedures were approved by the Iran Ministry of Teaching and Scientific Research and local ethical in accordance with the Bu-Ali Sina University of Hamedan, Iran.

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