EIF1A expression in sertoli cell nuclear transfer embryos during preimplantation development

Global transcriptome studies have provided important information advancing our understanding of nuclear reprogramming in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. The expression of the Eif1a gene is down-regulated in mouse Sertoli cell nuclear transfer (SeCNT) embryos during the preimplantation stages, however its protein expression level remains unclear. Here we observed the protein expression level of EIF1A by immunofluorescence and western blot analysis during the preimplantation stages in mouse SeCNT embryos. The results reveal that EIF1A protein is constantly expressed in germinal-vesicle and metaphase II oocytes and preimplantation stage embryos. Importantly, the localization and expression level of EIF1A were similar in control in vitro fertilized embryos and SeCNT embryos. Thus, since maternally derived EIF1A persisted throughout preimplantation development, repression of Eif1a is not likely to be involved in the developmental potency of mouse SeCNT embryos.