Investigating SMYD3 role during oocyte maturation in a 3D follicle-enclosed oocyte in vitro model in sheep

BackgroundSMYD3 is a histone methyltransferase known for its dual role in modifying both histone and non-histone proteins. Despite its established involvement in somatic cell function and oncogenesis, its role in mammalian oogenesis and early embryonic development remains unclear. This study aimed t...

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Main Authors: Chiara Camerano Spelta Rapini, Alessia Peserico, Chiara Di Berardino, Giulia Capacchietti, Camila Rojo-Fleming, Andrada-Ioana Damian-Buda, Irem Unalan, Aldo Roberto Boccaccini, Valentina Grossi, Mauro Mattioli, Barbara Barboni
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1625914/full
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author Chiara Camerano Spelta Rapini
Alessia Peserico
Chiara Di Berardino
Giulia Capacchietti
Camila Rojo-Fleming
Andrada-Ioana Damian-Buda
Irem Unalan
Aldo Roberto Boccaccini
Valentina Grossi
Mauro Mattioli
Barbara Barboni
author_facet Chiara Camerano Spelta Rapini
Alessia Peserico
Chiara Di Berardino
Giulia Capacchietti
Camila Rojo-Fleming
Andrada-Ioana Damian-Buda
Irem Unalan
Aldo Roberto Boccaccini
Valentina Grossi
Mauro Mattioli
Barbara Barboni
author_sort Chiara Camerano Spelta Rapini
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundSMYD3 is a histone methyltransferase known for its dual role in modifying both histone and non-histone proteins. Despite its established involvement in somatic cell function and oncogenesis, its role in mammalian oogenesis and early embryonic development remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the function of SMYD3 in regulating oocyte meiotic progression and developmental competence using sheep as a mono-ovulatory model.ResultsUtilizing a 3D follicle-enclosed in vitro maturation (FEO-IVM) system, the study examined the impact of SMYD3 inhibition on oocyte maturation within Early Antral follicles In the absence of human chorionic gonadotropin oocytes remained arrested at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage. Interestingly, treatment with a SMYD3 inhibitor (iSMYD3) alone prompted germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in 67% of oocytes; however, progression to the metaphase II (MII) stage was achieved only when iSMYD3 was combined with hCG, resulting in a 73% maturation rate. Despite this, MII oocytes from the iSMYD3 group exhibited compromised developmental competence, as evidenced by the failure of parthenogenetic embryos to progress beyond the 8-cell stage, contrasting with a 29% success rate in the hCG-only group. At the molecular level, SMYD3 inhibition led to sustained activation of CDC25A within oocytes, facilitating GVBD but impeding the MI-MII transition due to the absence of CDC25A degradation. Moreover, iSMYD3 failed to activate the MAPK1/3 and PDE5A pathways in the somatic compartment, unlike hCG treatment, indicating distinct signaling mechanisms. Additionally, hCG rapidly downregulated SMYD3 expression in follicular walls and cumulus cells, a process independent of meiotic progression but essential for metabolic decoupling between oocytes and cumulus cells. SMYD3 inhibition disrupted this decoupling by preventing hCG-induced gap junction closure, thereby maintaining prolonged intercellular communication.ConclusionSMYD3 is identified as a key modulator of oocyte maturation, orchestrating meiotic progression through CDC25A regulation and interacting with hCG-driven somatic signaling. These findings highlight SMYD3 as a critical determinant of late oogenesis and a potential target for enhancing oocyte competence in assisted reproductive technologies
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spelling doaj-art-f4a59cbbfd144bbfb956f96e1a5e7ef62025-08-20T02:20:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-06-011310.3389/fcell.2025.16259141625914Investigating SMYD3 role during oocyte maturation in a 3D follicle-enclosed oocyte in vitro model in sheepChiara Camerano Spelta Rapini0Alessia Peserico1Chiara Di Berardino2Giulia Capacchietti3Camila Rojo-Fleming4Andrada-Ioana Damian-Buda5Irem Unalan6Aldo Roberto Boccaccini7Valentina Grossi8Mauro Mattioli9Barbara Barboni10Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, ItalyDepartment of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, ItalyDepartment of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, ItalyDepartment of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, ItalyDepartment of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, ItalyDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomaterials, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, GermanyDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomaterials, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, GermanyDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomaterials, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, GermanyMedical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte (Ba), ItalyDepartment of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, ItalyDepartment of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, ItalyBackgroundSMYD3 is a histone methyltransferase known for its dual role in modifying both histone and non-histone proteins. Despite its established involvement in somatic cell function and oncogenesis, its role in mammalian oogenesis and early embryonic development remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the function of SMYD3 in regulating oocyte meiotic progression and developmental competence using sheep as a mono-ovulatory model.ResultsUtilizing a 3D follicle-enclosed in vitro maturation (FEO-IVM) system, the study examined the impact of SMYD3 inhibition on oocyte maturation within Early Antral follicles In the absence of human chorionic gonadotropin oocytes remained arrested at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage. Interestingly, treatment with a SMYD3 inhibitor (iSMYD3) alone prompted germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in 67% of oocytes; however, progression to the metaphase II (MII) stage was achieved only when iSMYD3 was combined with hCG, resulting in a 73% maturation rate. Despite this, MII oocytes from the iSMYD3 group exhibited compromised developmental competence, as evidenced by the failure of parthenogenetic embryos to progress beyond the 8-cell stage, contrasting with a 29% success rate in the hCG-only group. At the molecular level, SMYD3 inhibition led to sustained activation of CDC25A within oocytes, facilitating GVBD but impeding the MI-MII transition due to the absence of CDC25A degradation. Moreover, iSMYD3 failed to activate the MAPK1/3 and PDE5A pathways in the somatic compartment, unlike hCG treatment, indicating distinct signaling mechanisms. Additionally, hCG rapidly downregulated SMYD3 expression in follicular walls and cumulus cells, a process independent of meiotic progression but essential for metabolic decoupling between oocytes and cumulus cells. SMYD3 inhibition disrupted this decoupling by preventing hCG-induced gap junction closure, thereby maintaining prolonged intercellular communication.ConclusionSMYD3 is identified as a key modulator of oocyte maturation, orchestrating meiotic progression through CDC25A regulation and interacting with hCG-driven somatic signaling. These findings highlight SMYD3 as a critical determinant of late oogenesis and a potential target for enhancing oocyte competence in assisted reproductive technologieshttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1625914/fullSMYD3follicle-enclosed oocyte in vitro maturation (FEO-IVM)ovine oocyte competencecumulus-oocyte metabolic couplinghCG-dependent signaling pathways
spellingShingle Chiara Camerano Spelta Rapini
Alessia Peserico
Chiara Di Berardino
Giulia Capacchietti
Camila Rojo-Fleming
Andrada-Ioana Damian-Buda
Irem Unalan
Aldo Roberto Boccaccini
Valentina Grossi
Mauro Mattioli
Barbara Barboni
Investigating SMYD3 role during oocyte maturation in a 3D follicle-enclosed oocyte in vitro model in sheep
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
SMYD3
follicle-enclosed oocyte in vitro maturation (FEO-IVM)
ovine oocyte competence
cumulus-oocyte metabolic coupling
hCG-dependent signaling pathways
title Investigating SMYD3 role during oocyte maturation in a 3D follicle-enclosed oocyte in vitro model in sheep
title_full Investigating SMYD3 role during oocyte maturation in a 3D follicle-enclosed oocyte in vitro model in sheep
title_fullStr Investigating SMYD3 role during oocyte maturation in a 3D follicle-enclosed oocyte in vitro model in sheep
title_full_unstemmed Investigating SMYD3 role during oocyte maturation in a 3D follicle-enclosed oocyte in vitro model in sheep
title_short Investigating SMYD3 role during oocyte maturation in a 3D follicle-enclosed oocyte in vitro model in sheep
title_sort investigating smyd3 role during oocyte maturation in a 3d follicle enclosed oocyte in vitro model in sheep
topic SMYD3
follicle-enclosed oocyte in vitro maturation (FEO-IVM)
ovine oocyte competence
cumulus-oocyte metabolic coupling
hCG-dependent signaling pathways
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1625914/full
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