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. 2020 Dec 24;2(1):33–42. doi: 10.1016/j.xfss.2020.12.005

Figure 5.

Figure 5

CTSL mRNA and protein expressions in human oocytes, embryos, and follicular cells. (A) CTSL mRNA expression analyzed by RT-qPCR in GV- and MII-stage oocytes, BL (n = 3 pools of 6 oocytes or embryos), CC, and GC (n = 3). Expression data were normalized to GAPDH and presented as a bar graph. (B) Capillary Western blot of total CTSL protein expression and (C) fold change in the abundance of CTSL protein (55 kDa) and possible variants (60 kDa) in MII-stage oocytes, 1C- and BL-stage embryos, CC, and GC (n = 3 replicates). Arrow indicates the target protein. All bar graphs show the mean ± SEM. Significant differences in expression between samples were determined using 1-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test. No significant difference was observed in CTSL mRNA and protein expressions present in the samples. 1C = 1-cell; ANOVA = analysis of variance; BL = blastocyst; CC = cumulus cells; CTSL = cathepsin L; GC = granulosa cells; GV = germinal vesicle; MII = metaphase II; mRNA = messenger ribonucleic acid; ND = nondetectable; RT-qPCR = quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; SEM = standard error of the mean; TMPRSS2 = transmembrane serine protease 2.