Dynamic mRNA degradome analyses indicate a role of histone H3K4 trimethylation in association with meiosis-coupled mRNA decay in oocyte aging

A decrease in oocyte developmental potential is a major obstacle for successful pregnancy in women of advanced age. However, the age-related epigenetic modifications associated with dynamic transcriptome changes, particularly meiotic maturation-coupled mRNA clearance, have not been adequately characterized in human oocytes. This study demonstrates a decreased storage of transcripts encoding key factors regulating the maternal mRNA degradome in fully grown oocytes of women of advanced age. A similar defect in meiotic maturation-triggered mRNA clearance is also detected in aged mouse oocytes. Mechanistically, the epigenetic and cytoplasmic aspects of oocyte maturation are synchronized in both the normal development and aging processes. The level of histone H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) is high in fully grown mouse and human oocytes derived from young females but decreased during aging due to the decreased expression of epigenetic factors responsible for H3K4me3 accumulation. Oocyte-specific knockout of the gene encoding CxxC-finger protein 1 (CXXC1), a DNA-binding subunit of SETD1 methyltransferase, causes ooplasm changes associated with accelerated aging and impaired maternal mRNA translation and degradation. These results suggest that a network of CXXC1-maintained H3K4me3, in association with mRNA decay competence, sets a timer for oocyte deterioration and plays a role in oocyte aging in both mouse and human oocytes. Developmental potential of oocytes decreases in women of advanced age. Here the authors observe impaired meiosis-coupled mRNA decay and reduced CXXC1-maintained histone H3K4 trimethylation in old oocytes of mouse and humans.

Automated summary

The decrease in oocyte developmental potential in women of advanced age is influenced by age-related epigenetic modifications and dynamic transcriptome changes. This study investigates the decreased storage of key factor-encoding transcripts and impaired mRNA clearance in aged oocytes, along with a decrease in histone H3K4 trimethylation. Furthermore, the knockout of the CXXC1 gene results in accelerated aging and impaired oocyte development.