Anti-CST6 (aa 61-149) polyclonal antibody

Carefully coordinated interaction between the endometrium and embryo is critical for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in mammals. By exploring the gene expression dynamics of this tissue during preimplantation development, we may be able to get insight into the genetic mechanisms of reproduction during early pregnancy. Here, we have performed comparative transcriptome profiling of the endometrium in response to spherical (Day 7 to Day 12) and elongated (Day 13 to Day 17) embryos in Finnsheep, Texel and their F1 crosses using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) approach. A total of 21125 genes were expressed in our dataset of which 554 were significantly (absolute log2 fold change > 2.5; adjusted p-value < 0.01) upregulated in the endometrium with elongated embryos. Highly abundant autosomal genes in the endometrium were associated with biological processes such as facilitation of maternal recognition of pregnancy, trophoblast elongation and implantation (LGALS15, CST3, CST6, and EEF1A1). Several endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) including a novel ERV gene located in a reduced FecL locus potentially associated with sheep prolificacy were expressed in our dataset. Comparative transcriptome profiling of the endometrium having spherical and elongated embryos revealed distinct gene expression patterns. Genes that were upregulated in response to elongated embryos indicated the importance of immune system at the maternal-embryo interface prior to implantation.

Adaptation to the changing environmental CO2 levels is essential for all living cells. In particular, microorganisms colonizing and infecting the human body are exposed to highly variable concentrations, ranging from atmospheric 0.04 to 5% and more in blood and specific host niches. Carbonic anhydrases are highly conserved metalloenzymes that enable fixation of CO2 by its conversion into bicarbonate. This process is not only crucial to ensure the supply of adequate carbon amounts for cellular metabolism, but also contributes to several signaling processes in fungi, including morphology and communication. The fungal specific carbonic anhydrase gene NCE103 is transcribed in response to CO2 availability. As recently shown, this regulation relies on the ATF/CREB transcription factor Cst6 and the AGC family protein kinase Sch9. Here, we review the regulatory mechanisms which control NCE103 expression in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans and Candida glabrata and discuss which additional factors might contribute in this novel CO2 sensing cascade.