AUTHOR=Jiang Wen-Jie , Lee Song-Hee , Heo Geun , Chung Hak Jae , Cho Eun Seok , Sa Soo Jin , Hochi Shinichi , Cui Xiang-Shun 

TITLE=Knockdown of Y-box binding protein 1 induces autophagy in early porcine embryos

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2023.1238546

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2023.1238546

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=<p>Y-box binding protein 1 (<italic>YBX1</italic>) plays important roles in RNA stabilization, translation, transcriptional regulation, and mitophagy. However, its effects on porcine preimplantation embryos remain unclear. In this study, we knocked down <italic>YBX1</italic> in the one-cell (1C) stage embryo via small interfering RNA microinjection to determine its function in porcine embryo development. The mRNA level of <italic>YBX1</italic> was found to be highly expressed at the four-cell (4C) stage in porcine embryos compared with one-cell (1C) and two-cell (2C) stages. The number of blastocysts was reduced following YBX1 knockdown. Notably, <italic>YBX1</italic> knockdown decreased the phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced kinase 1 (<italic>PINK1</italic>) and parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (<italic>PRKN</italic>) mRNA levels. <italic>YBX1</italic> knockdown also decreased PINK1, active mitochondria, and sirtuin 1 levels, indicating reduced mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis. Furthermore, <italic>YBX1</italic> knockdown increased the levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and calnexin, leading to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Additionally, <italic>YBX1</italic> knockdown increased autophagy and apoptosis. In conclusion, knockdown of <italic>YBX1</italic> decreases mitochondrial function, while increasing ER stress and autophagy during embryonic development.</p>