Arginine with leucine drives reactive oxygen species-mediated integrin α5β1 expression and promotes implantation in mouse blastocysts.

The implantation rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF)-derived blastocysts after embryo transfer remains low, suggesting that the inadequate expression of specific proteins in culture-induced IVF-derived blastocysts contributes to low implantation rates. Therefore, treatment with appropriate regulation may improve the blastocyst implantation ability. This study demonstrated that the combination of l-arginine (Arg) and l-leucine (Leu) exerts distinct effects on IVF-derived mouse blastocysts.

Upregulation of iNOS and phosphorylated eNOS in the implantation-induced blastocysts of mice.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine expressions of iNOS and phosphorylated eNOS (p-eNOS) in implantation-induced blastocysts. We also examined the upstream of p-eNOS.

Methods: To address the protein expressions in implantation-induced blastocysts, we performed immunohistochemical analysis using a delayed implantation mouse model.

An improved de novo genome assembly of the common marmoset genome yields improved contiguity and increased mapping rates of sequence data.

Background: The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is one of the most studied primate model organisms. However, the marmoset genomes available in the public databases are highly fragmented and filled with sequence gaps, hindering research advances related to marmoset genomics and transcriptomics.

Results: Here we utilize single-molecule, long-read sequence data to improve and update the existing genome assembly and report a near-complete genome of the common marmoset.

Improvement of implantation potential in mouse blastocysts derived from IVF by combined treatment with prolactin, epidermal growth factor and 4-hydroxyestradiol.

Study Question: Can supplementation of medium with prolactin (PRL), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OH-E2) prior to embryo transfer improve implantation potential in mouse blastocysts derived from IVF?

Summary Answer: Combined treatment with PRL, EGF and 4-OH-E2 improves mouse blastocyst implantation rates, while alone, each factor is ineffective.

What Is Known Already: Blastocyst dormancy during delayed implantation caused by ovariectomy is maintained by continued progesterone treatment in mice, and estrogen injection rapidly activates blastocysts to implantation-induced status in vivo. While the expression of many proteins is upregulated in implantation-induced blastocysts, selective proteolysis by proteasomes, such as estrogen receptor α (ESR1), occurs in implantation-induced blastocysts to achieve implantation-competent status.

SHARAKU: an algorithm for aligning and clustering read mapping profiles of deep sequencing in non-coding RNA processing.

Motivation: Deep sequencing of the transcripts of regulatory non-coding RNA generates footprints of post-transcriptional processes. After obtaining sequence reads, the short reads are mapped to a reference genome, and specific mapping patterns can be detected called read mapping profiles, which are distinct from random non-functional degradation patterns. These patterns reflect the maturation processes that lead to the production of shorter RNA sequences.