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In the OSCILE project, we will aim at identifying key factors expressed in the granulosa cells and required for the full acquisition of oocyte developmental competence in vertebrates. In order to do so, we will first aim at performing a wide-scale microarray-based gene expression study of the granulosa cells duringin vivooocyte developmental competence acquisition. The studied will be performed using 2 lower vertebrate species, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Xenopus (Xenopus laevis) and 2 mammalian species, the mouse (Mus musculus) and the bovine (Bos taurus). It will thus include 2 species of great economic importance in France, trout and bovine, and 2 model species, mouse and xenopus, that will allow a better functional characterization of studied genes. The first part of the project will consist in a transcriptomic analysis carried out in Ouest Genopole transcriptomic facility. This analysis will rely on the use of Agilent technology for all 4 species. After a statistical analysis aiming at identifying differentially expressed genes in each species, a phylogenomic analysis will be carried out to identify othology and paralogy relationships between identified genes. The second part of the project will consist in performing a thorough gene expression study in the ovarian follicle during oocyte developmental competence acquisition. This expression study will be carried out at both RNA and protein levels on a limited number of genes. Finally, a functional study will be performed for some of the most interesting genes by taking advantage of experimental opportunities available in each of the 4 species.From a scientific perspective, this project should allow the identification of conserved molecular mechanisms in lower vertebrates, mammals, or vertebrates. These results will be analyzed in the light of ovarian follicular anatomical structure changes throughout vertebrate evolution (from non antral follicle in lower vertebrates to antral follicle in mammals). This project will also result in valuable species-specific information. Finally, the project could have important applied outputs in animal breeding as putatively conserved mechanisms and/or markers could also be extended to other species (e.g new aquaculture species). From a biotechnological standpoint, it is also noteworthy that this project will specifically focus on somatic cells that surround the oocyte, thus offering the possibility to monitor indirect molecular markers of oocyte quality.

Partners : 

• Inra LPGP (Coordinator Julien Bobe - Sex Differentiation and Oogenesis )
• CNRS Université Rennes 1, UMR6061, Rennes (Franck Chesnel)
• INRA PRC, Tours (Svetlana Uzbekova) 
• Université de Provence, Evolution biologique et modélisation, Marseille (Pierre Antoine Pontarotti)