CXADR is required for AJ and TJ assembly during porcine blastocyst formation

Coxsackie virus and adenovirus receptor (CXADR) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily as well as a member of the junctional adhesion molecule family of adhesion receptor. In human pre-implantation embryos, CXADR was detected and co-localized with tight junction (TJ) proteins on the membrane of the trophectoderm. However, its physiological roles were not elucidated in terms of blastocyst formation. Here, we reported expression patterns and biological functions of CXADR in porcine pre-implantation embryos. The transcripts of CXADR were detected at all stages of pre-implantation. Particularly, its expression dramatically increased and preferentially localized at the edge of cell-cell contacts, rather than in the nucleus from the eight-cell stage onwards. CXADR expression was knocked down (KD) by microinjecting double-stranded RNA into one-cell parthenotes. The vast majority of CXADR KD embryos failed to develop to the blastocyst stage, and a few developed KD blastocysts did not expand fully. Analysis of adherens junction (AJ)- and TJ-associated genes/proteins using qRT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and assessment of TJ permeability using FITC-dextran uptake assay revealed that the developmental failure and relatively small cavities are attributed to the defects of TJ assembly. In summary, CXADR is necessary for the AJ and TJ assembly/biogenesis during pre-implantation development.