published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

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H1 histones are potentially significant to nuclear reprogramming during the oocyte-to-embryo transition. One characteristic distinguishing the H1 subtypes is that the somatic H1 histones are found primarily in dividing cells, whereas the H10 subtype is predominantly found in differentiated cells. The H1 complement in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos from wild-type and H10-/- animals was investigated. / Immunocytochemistry of wild-type cells demonstrated that H10 was predominant in oocytes while somatic H1 began accumulating in the 2-cell embryo. In H10-/- cells H10 was not detected, but, surprisingly, somatic H1 was detected beginning at the 1-cell stage. Radiolabeling of wild-type and H10-/- cells revealed that somatic H1 synthesis intensified after meiotic maturation, and therefore prior to its detection in embryos. The functional study found that loss of H10 impaired oogenesis but enhanced embryogenesis. The patterns of H1 immunodetection and synthesis are integrated, and the significance of H1 composition in development is discussed.

At fertilization, the remodelling of the sperm nucleus into the male pronucleus is critical for normal development. Morphological and functional changes to the nucleus are underpinned by biochemical changes in the chromatin composition, most notably the removal of sperm specific protamines and assembly of histones onto the paternal DNA. This exchange is controlled by oocyte factors, as exemplified in Xenopus by nucleoplasmin. Though mammalian factors remain unidentified, a functional assay based on antibodies recognizing core histones has been developed to test the activity in oocytes that transfers histones onto sperm DNA, named histone transfer activity (HTA). The assay was applied to growing and maturing murine oocytes to determine when during oogenesis HTA develops, and to probe potential regulatory mechanisms. Fully-grown oocytes develop HTA upon maturation, in a protein-synthesis dependent manner. Large, growing oocytes also develop HTA upon entry into M-phase. Small growing meiotically incompetent oocytes, ones that do not spontaneously enter M-phase, do not develop HTA, though this can be overcome by culture of oocytes to meiotic competence, or by treatment with strontium to induce intracellular calcium oscillations. Taken together these findings form a model of how HTA develops throughout oogenesis. Finally, an attempt is made to identify a potential mammalian HTA factor. Transcripts for two remodelling factors, mNAP and Npm3, are identified in the murine oocyte, and injection of anti-sense oligonucleotides reveals that Npm3 plays a significant role in the deposition of histories and the remodelling of sperm chromatin at fertilization. Combined with the findings of the HTA assay, the data forms a testable model of how Npm3 may be regulated throughout oogenesis.

Typescript (photocopy) / viii, 198 leaves, [43] leaves of plates : ill. ; 30 cm / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Adelaide, 1983

Bibliography: leaves 147-165 / iv, 165 leaves, [31] leaves of plates : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Biochemistry, 1986

Bibliography: leaves 133-144 / 144 p., [15] leaves of plates : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Biochemistry, 1986

1. The work described in this thesis forms part of an investigation of eukaryotic gene control. The system studied was the avian erythroid cell series since it is possible to isolate pure populations of the various cell types which have well-defined biochemical activities. These cells contain an unusual tissue - specific histone H5, which may be involved in the progressive repression of transcription observed as these cells differentiate. Although the gene controlling function of this histone must be at a very gross level, this represents a unique opportunity to investigate one facet of gene control. Probably the most sensitive technique is to assay for specific messenger RNA and gene sequences by hybridisation to an appropriate probe. The aim of this thesis was to prepare such a probe from H5 mRNA and to use it to calculate the reiteration frequency of the H5 gene in the chicken genome. 2. The cells employed were chicken reticulocytes since the only histone made in these cells is H5. Experiments were conducted which demonstrated that H5 mRNA is probably a minor species compared to globin mRNA in these cells. Furthermore, calculations indicate that the two mRNAs are probably of similar molecular weight which may complicate the isolation of H5 mRNA. As a result globin mRNA was first purified and characterised. Properties which may have proved useful in the separation of this mRNA from H5 mRNA are discussed. The globin mRNA was used to optimise techniques for the in vitro translation and identification of chicken mRNAs. This was considered necessary as mRNAs from different sources vary in the conditions required for optimal translation and it was reasoned that mRNAs from the same cell would have similar optima. 3. Total polysomal RNA was fractionated on the basis of size and poly A content. Although large amounts of globin mRNA were present, H5 mRNA could only be detected in the non - poly A containing RNA. Even in this fraction however, there was still a large excess of globin mRNA which was difficult to remove due to the demonstrated similarity of their molecular weights. 4. Since it had proved impossible to isolate the H5 mRNA by conventional techniques, immunological methods of isolating the polysomes producing H5 were investigated. Using immunoadsorbents, mRNA was prepared in small amounts which programmed the synthesis in vitro of more than 70 % H5. The yield and specificity were improved by modifying the procedure to indirect immunoprecipitation followed by oligo ( dT ) - cellulose chromatography. The resulting mRNA programmes the synthesis in vitro of more than 90 % H5. The chemical purity of the mRNA is discussed. 5. The immunologically prepared H5 mRNA was not copied into cDNA by RNA - dependent DNA - polymerase. Since this was probably due to the lack of a 3 ' poly A tract on the mRNA, an enzyme was purified and characterised which would add such a tract. The enzymically modified mRNA could then be copied into cDNA of high specific activity. 6. The H5 cDNA was characterised in terms of size and fidelity of copying. By hybridisation analysis it was demonstrated that the amount of contaminating rRNA and globin mRNA complementary sequences present in the cDNA was insignificant. The complexity of the cDNA was shown to be of the same size as the H5 mRNA and will back hybridise to this mRNA to greater than 75 %. These results are discussed to demonstrate that the cDNA is a faithful copy of H5 mRNA. The possible uses of the resulting probe are also discussed. 7. The H5 cDNA was employed to quantify the number of H5 genes in the chicken genome. The significance of this result is discussed in terms of the known reiteration and organisation of histone genes in other species, and the possible role of H5 as a gene control agent. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Biochemistry, 1975.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 145-159). Also available online through Digital Dissertations.