Transcriptome profile of oocytes expressing a catalytically inactive knock-in allele of Ago2

The RNase III enzyme DICER generates both microRNAs (miRNAs) and endogenous short interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs). Dicer deletion in mouse oocytes leads to female infertility due to defects during meiosis I. Because miRNA function is suppressed in mouse oocytes, it has been proposed that endo-siRNAs may have a role during female meiosis. By utilizing a catalytically inactive knock-in allele of AGO2 specifically in oocytes, we disrupt the function of siRNAs and analyze the transcriptome of these oocytes in comparison with Ago2 null, and Dicer null oocytes. Germinal vesicle-intact, full-grown oocytes were collected from eCG-primed females expressing a catalytically inactive knock-in allele of Ago2 (Ago2 ADH) specifically in oocytes. Oocytes were also collected from Ago2 null and Ago2 fl/fl oocytes, as well as Dicer wild-type and null mice. Oocytes were freed of attached cumulus cells by pipetting. Twenty oocytes collected from 3 different mice were used for high-throughput RNA sequencing. Three replicates for all genotypes except Ago2 null (two). The mouse background strain is "mostly" C57BL6, i.e., it is a cross between 3 different transgenic mice of different strains.