Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2023, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (1): 189-200.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2023.01.018

• ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND REPRODUCTION • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Expression Patterns and Functional Analysis of YAP1 in Endometrium of Hu Sheep with Different Fertility during Estrus

WANG Yahan1, ZHENG Yujing1, ZHONG Pei1, LI Xiaodan1,2, WANG Feng1,2*   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
    2. Jiangsu Livestock Engineering Laboratory, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
  • Received:2022-06-17 Online:2023-01-23 Published:2023-01-17

Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the expression patterns and function of the effector gene YAP1 in Hippo signaling pathway in endometrium of Hu sheep with different fertility. Based on the genealogical archives and polymorphism analysis of BMPR-1B, a total of 9 healthy pluriparous ewes were divided into 3 groups (HBB, LBB and LB+, n=3). RNA was extracted from endometrial tissues of Hu sheep with different fertility, and reversed transcript into cDNA. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to analyze the expression of several major genes in the Hippo signaling pathway in endometrium of Hu sheep with different fertility. The amino acid homology and genetic relationship of YAP1 protein in different species were analyzed by bioinformatics methods. Hu sheep endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) were isolated in vitro, and the expression of YAP1 was downregulated by using RNAi and cell transfection techniques in vitro. The effect of YAP1 gene on the expression of uterine receptivity related genes was analyzed by RT-qPCR. Moreover, the effect of interfering YAP1 on cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expression of apoptosis and mitochondria related genes was analyzed by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The expression levels of YAP1, LATS1 and MST1 in Hippo signaling pathway were different in endometrium tissues of Hu sheep with different fertility, and the expression level of YAP1 gene in high fertility Hu sheep (HBB) endometrium was significantly higher than that in low fertility Hu sheep (LB+, LBB) endometrium. Amino acid homology and phylogenetic tree analysis showed that YAP1 protein of goat and cattle had the highest homology and the closest genetic relationship with sheep. The mRNA expression levels of receptivity related genes (FOXO1, PRL, VEGF, OPN, COX-2) in ESCs were significantly changed after interfering YAP1. Meanwhile, the apoptosis rate of ESCs was significantly increased, the expression levels of Bax, BIM, p53, caspase3, caspase8, caspase9, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were upregulated, and expression levels of Bcl-2 was downregulated after YAP1 silencing. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of genes related to mitochondrial function (FIS1, DNM1L, MFN2, PPARGC1A, OPA1) were also significantly changed. YAP1 may establish good endometrial receptivity by inhibiting apoptosis and stabilizing mitochondrial function.

Key words: Hu sheep, Hippo pathway, YAP1, uterine receptivity

CLC Number: