Cell adhesion plays an important role in the differentiation of the morphogenesis and the trophectoderm epithelium of the blastocyst. In the porcine embryo, CDH1 mediated adhesion initiates at compaction before blastocyst formation, regulated post-translationally via protein kinase C and other signaling molecules. Here we focus on muscle RAS oncogene homolog (M-RAS), which is the closest relative to the RAS related proteins and shares most regulatory and effector interactions. To characterize the effects of M-RAS on embryo compaction, we used gain- and loss-of-function strategies in porcine embryos, in which M-RAS gene structure and protein sequence are conserved. We showed that knockdown of M-RAS in zygotes reduced embryo development abilities and CDH1 expression. Moreover, the phosphorylation of ERK was also decreased in M-RAS KD embryos. Overexpression of M-RAS allows M-RAS KD embryos to rescue the embryo compaction and blastocyst formation. Collectively, these results highlight novel conserved and multiple effects of M-RAS during porcine embryo development.

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
AUTHOR’S POSITION AND ORCID NO.
REFERENCES

• Dongjie Zhou(Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea)
• Yingjie Niu(Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea)
• Xiang-Shun Cui(Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea) Corresponding author