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The role of SIRT1 during in vitro maturation of oocytes
Landsmann, Lukáš ; Nevoral, Jan (advisor) ; Šolc, Petr (referee)
SIRT1 histone deacetylase acts towards many epigenetic and non-epigenetic targets. The involvement of SIRT1 in oocyte maturation is assumed and the importance of ooplasmic SIRT1 pool for further destiny of matured oocyte is strongly suggested. We hypothesized that SIRT1 play role of the signal molecule in mature oocyte through selected epigenetic and non- epigenetic regulation. We observed SIRT1 re-localization in mature oocyte and the association with spindle microtubules. In matured oocyte, SIRT1 shows a spindle-like pattern and spindle- specific SIRT1 action is supported decreasing α-tubulin acetylation. Based on the observation of histone code in immature and matured oocytes, we suggest that SIRT1 is mostly predestined for epigenetic mode of action in germinal vesicle (GV) of immature oocyte. Accordingly, SIRT1- driven trimethylation of histone H3 on lysine K9 in matured oocyte is considered to be an inheritance of GV epigenetic transformation. Taken together, our observations point out the dual spatiotemporal SIRT1 action in oocyte capable to be switched from epigenetic to the non- epigenetic mode of action readily depending on meiosis progress. Keywords: oocyte, SIRT1, histone, developmental competence, tubuline, epigenetics
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Analysis of dosage effect of speciation gene Prdm9 on fertility of mouse hybrids
Flachs, Petr ; Trachtulec, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Stopka, Pavel (referee) ; Král, Jiří (referee)
(eng) The phenomenon of hybrid sterility represents one of the evolutionary mechanisms that enables speciation. Only a few speciation genes have been uncovered. The only one found in mammals is Prdm9 (PR-domain 9). Data in the literature on the involvement of Prdm9 in decreased fertility of various semifertile hybrid males of house mouse subspecies were scarce before the results of this thesis were completed, despite that such males are much more frequent in nature than the fully sterile ones. Utilizing a panel of genetic tools and a battery of phenotyping tests, this thesis shows a central role of Prdm9 in fecundity of hybrids, including many fertility disorders and age dependency. Both increasing and reducing the Prdm9 gene dosage significantly elevated fertility parameters. Surprisingly, even the allele that in one copy causes full hybrid sterility increased F1 hybrid fertility when present in multiple copies. The PRDM9 protein also plays a role in identifying the sites of meiotic recombination. This study also points out the principles of allelic competition in determination of the sites of preferred recombination (hotspots), which suggests a possible link between both previously described Prdm9 roles. This thesis summarizes a set of three logically interconnected publications with the ambition...
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Epigenetic regulation of HLA genes asociated with celiac disease
Hudec, Michael ; Černá, Marie (advisor) ; Hušáková, Markéta (referee)
Introduction: HLA class II system presents one of the most important mechanism in immune system, which is able to recognise pathogens and damaged cells. Some HLA class II alleles are associated with autoimmune diseases, for example celiac disease, which is typical by chronic inflammation of small intestine and other following symptoms. The risk HLA class II variants are DQ2 and DQ8. Epigenetic mechanisms that regulates gene expression, especially methylation of cytosine in promoter region of DQ2 and/or DQ8 alleles, could have influence on development of T lymphocytes in the thymus, where T-lymphocytes develop and pass a few stages in, and only the survival clones can be part of function immune system. Aim: The aim of this study is to compare methylation level of promoter regions of HLA DQ2 and DQ8 alleles between celiac patients and healthy controls. Another goal is to compare expression level of DQ2 and DQ8 variants between these two groups. Methods: DNA and RNA were isolated from full blood of two sets of donors. DNA was converted by bisulphite conversion and then amplified by Nested PCR. The PCR product was cloned to bacteria. Than positive colonies were selected. Subsequent methylation analysis was performed. RNA was converted to cDNA by Reverse transcription. Relative expression was analyzed...
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Role of long non-coding RNAs in plants
Klodová, Božena ; Honys, David (advisor) ; Novotný, Marian (referee)
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent a group of transcripts with length greater than 200 nucleotides having low coding potential. It is a group of regulatory ribonucleic acid (RNA) still not fully understood but with significant potential in many biological processes across different species. For animals, many important lncRNA regulators and their roles in a range of events including their involvement in carcinogenic diseases have been reported. However, particular mechanisms of functions are often yet to be discovered. Considering plants, economically important species such as rice, maize or soybean are of particular interest. There are still only several fully annotated transcripts. However, with the constant improvement of sequencing and bioinformatic methods, the importance of lncRNA (for example in pathogen resistance or plant reproduction) becomes clear. This bachelor thesis reviews up-to-date knowledge about lncRNAs and their roles in plants. It also describes the difficulties of lncRNA research and discusses their future potential.
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Reproductive and epigenetic parameters in sperm connected to the disruptive development and early embryo loss.
Flintová, Jennifer ; Hortová, Kateřina (advisor) ; Petelák, Aleš (referee)
DNA methylation, histone modifications and regulation by non-coding RNAs are considered to play vital role in embryonal development and gametogenesis. Epigenetic mechanisms are not only inwardly programmed, but are massively affected by numerous exogenous aspects. Environmetal pollution and unhealthy parental lifestyle are two major factors related to impaired fertility status, abberant embryonal development of progeny. Some altered epigenetic marks can be transmitted to offspring generations, however in some cases these aberrations may be reversed by adequate lifestyle interventions. Since epigenetic regulations and genes responsible for spermatogenesis are conserved among vertebrates, studies based on animal models are highly relevant for understanding mechanisms causing impaired fertility and overall health in humans. Key words: Epigenetics, sperm, endocrine disruptors, hypoxia, lifestyle, transgenerational effect.
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The role of histone post-translational modifications in the regulation of gene expression in plants
Chromý, Jakub ; Čermák, Vojtěch (advisor) ; Holá, Dana (referee)
Chromatin structure, gene expression and consequently many important aspects of the plant development are under control of epigenetic regulation. Within epigenetic regulation, histones and their modifications play a pivotal role. The N-terminal tails of histones are dynamically modified by covalent post-translational modifications (PTMs). These modifications are key regulators modulating chromatin structure and thus regulating gene expression. In angiosperms, one of the processes finely regulated at the epigenetic level is the flowering. Flowering represents a very complex process, that is relevant for the study of epigenetic regulation as well as for practical application. In this work, I summarize current knowledge of the role of histone PTMs in the regulation of gene expression in plants, focused predominantly on two key regulators of flowering in Arabidopsis - FLC and FT.
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Association of chromatin modifications with transgenerational abiotic stress memory of plants
Vyskočilová, Barbara ; Holá, Dana (advisor) ; Fischer, Lukáš (referee)
Plants are constantly exposed to various stressors which usually leads to changes in the expression of many different genes. This can be controlled at multiple levels, including modifications of chromatin structure. Some of these modifications may persist even after the period when the plant is exposed to stress and could possibly act as a kind of "stress memory". This work deals with so-called meiotic/transgeneration "stress memory" of plants caused by abiotic stressors. Compilation of studies dealing with this topic showed that they are still rather rare and usually originated from only a few laboratories. The majority of these studies was aimed only at the examination of DNA methylation and their design was not always optimal. In my opinion, true proofs of transgeneration "stress memory" of plants still remain to be presented; further, more properly designed studies are necessary. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Histone modifications and methylation of polyomaviral genomes during the infection
Mrkáček, Michal ; Forstová, Jitka (advisor) ; Šmahelová, Jana (referee)
Similarly to other viruses, polyomaviruses require for their successful replication enzymes and other proteins encoded by their host cells. Additionally, because of their relatively small genome with only a few genes, polyomaviruses utilize for their efficient replication cellular regulation mechanisms. One of these regulations are posttranslational modifications of histones, which form nucleosomes together with viral DNA. The spectrum of these modifications is very wide, but in case of polyomaviruses, almost only ones studied are histone acetylations and methylations. Second possible regulation is a methylation of cytosine in CpG dinucleotides, which is associated with repression of gene expression. Current knowledge however suggest that polyomaviruses do not utilise this kind of modification. Moreover, because of a relatively small amount of CpG dinucleotides present in their genomes, they seem to avoid it. The goal of this work is to describe the individual types of these modifications and show their possible importance in the infectious cycle of polyomaviruses. Key words: polyomavirus, epigenetics, histone modification, DNA methylation, CpG dinucleotides
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Epigenetic mechanisms in the interferon γ signalling pathway
Fišerová, Lenka ; Reiniš, Milan (advisor) ; Javorková, Eliška (referee)
IFNγ is an important cytosine mediating imune responses, including antitumor immunity. It can affect expression of a lot of genes, which regulate different cellular processes. In tumor cells defects in signal cascade of IFNγ and mistakes in expression of genes regulated by IFNγ, for example genes for antigen adjustment and presentation (APM) or genes for major histocompatibility complex (MHC), were observed. Epigenetic mechanisms, can play a role in regulation of expression of genes for IFNγ, as well as in regulation of expression of genes regulated by IFNγ, including the components of the IFNγ signalling pathway. In lymphocytes from tumors the ability to produce IFNγ was limited by epigenetic silencing of genes for IFNγ. In tumor cells, epigenetic silencing of genes regulated by IFNγ, of genes of the IFNγ signaling cascade, for example IRF transcription factors, and other genes regulated by IFNγ, such as genes for APM, MHC or indoldioxygenase coding genes (IDO), was demonstrated. In case of their activation by IFNγ, epigenetic changes in regulation sequences of appropriate genes, were observed. IFNγ thus can be considered as an epigenetic agent. Epigenetic modulators are able to activate expression of genes regulated by IFNγ. By this way it's possible to explain some of immunomudullatory effects...
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Epigenetic regulation of HLA class II genes in relation to senescence of organism
Říhová, Adéla ; Kotrbová - Kozak, Anna Katarzyna (advisor) ; Slavčev, Antonij (referee)
Introduction: Glycoproteins of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are an irreplaceable part of immune response regulation and immune homeostasis maintenance. The regulation of the expression plays an important role in adaptive immune response. Recently, DNA methylation in regulatory areas, crucial for DNA availability to transcription factors, is one of the most researched mechanisms of this type of regulation. The DNA methylation is, among others, related to the aging processes. Increased predisposition age-related immunosenescence in higher age could result from the changes in methylation status of regulatory areas of MHC class II genes. Aims: The aim of this thesis is to analyze the methylation status of regulatory areas of DQB1 gene and to compare the differences between generations and specific alleles. The differences in the levels of DQB1 gene mRNA transcription between generations and specific alleles is also compared. Methods: Both DNA and RNA were isolated from blood samples obtained from donors of three different age groups. DNA was genotypized and modified by bisulfite conversion. The regulatory areas of DQB1 genes were then amplified and subcloned into bacteria. The positive clones were selected and subjected to DNA methylation analysis. RNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA...
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