study published in the prestigious journal Nature identified 290 genes after which eggs age prematurely, and thus menopause begins prematurely and fertility ends. “There are many mechanisms that lead to infertility. This study proved that most of the described genes are related to cellular processes in the detection of DNA damage and their subsequent repair, “explains the co-author of the publication Lucie Knoblochová from the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the ASCR.
“DNA damage is quite common and there are enzymes in the cells, so-called watchdogs, which detect the damage and repair it. However, unrepaired DNA damage can lead to developmental disorders or the extinction of fertilized eggs, ie embryos, and infertility, ”the scientist describes the results of extensive research.
How to repair damaged DNA?
If such DNA damage occurs in the embryo, the guard enzymes call for other enzymes that are able to repair the damage. At the same time, the embryo suspends some other functions to allow enough time for repair.
“It’s like breaking a wheel in a machine. It is a good idea to stop the whole machine before someone repairs or replaces the broken wheel, and then the machine can start again. If the machine does not stop and continues to work with the damaged wheel, it can be gradually and irreversibly destroyed, ”explains Knoblochová’s analogy of cellular processes.
If one of these watch enzymes CHK1 or CHK2 is missing in the embryo, the embryo will not detect the DNA damage and will continue to develop with the faulty DNA. This can lead to irreversible changes and the extinction of the embryo, ie infertility.
Mouse strain for infertility research in Liběchov
“My supervisor, Petr Šolc, came up with the idea to study the function of one of the above genes several years ago. In the laboratory, we investigated how infertility occurs in mice after its damage. We have been communicating with colleagues from abroad for a long time, who are also studying infertility-related genes, and we have found that our work is a great complement, ”describes Knobloch’s involvement of Czech scientists in a study conducted jointly by universities in Exeter and Cambridge, Barcelona and Copenhagen.
“We study the issue of infertility from different angles. We contributed to this work by studying the role of CHK1, how infertility occurs in a mouse model after its elimination. We believe that in the future our knowledge will be transferred to practice in centers for human reproduction, “adds Dávid Drutovič from the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the ASCR.
Significant research in Liběchov is also aided by the newly acquired state-of-the-art SPIM (single plane illumination microscopy) technology adapted for observing the development of mammalian eggs and embryos with many times greater accuracy and for longer than the conventional confocal microscope allows.
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Delayed parenting can be a race against time
Infertility is becoming an increasing problem in society. Women are born with a supply of eggs, which gradually mature during adulthood and are excreted in the form of ovulation. However, their number is limited and the depletion of this supply is called menopause. “The genetic integrity of human eggs decreases with increasing age and the natural fertility of women ceases approximately 10 years before the onset of menopause,” Knoblochová explains the causes of infertility in relation to age.
While people’s life expectancy has doubled in the last 150 years, the onset of menopause in women remains the same, around 50 years. Planned postponement of parenthood can be a game of time.
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