K. L. Korneeva¹, R. R. Rodriguez¹, S. V. Ralchenko², O. V. Martunovska²,
A. О. Frolova¹, O. P. Martsenyuk¹, L. V. Manzhula³, V. T. Melnyk⁴,
O. Y. Shkoropad⁴, M. Yu. Obolenska¹

¹Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy
of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
²Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine;
³Maternity Hospital of Kyiv N 3, Ukraine;
⁴Maternity Hospital of Irpin, Ukraine;
e-mail: m.obolenska@gmail.com

The cellular cysteine is highly regulated in a narrow range of concentrations due to its cyto- and neurtoxicity when it is overwhelmed or its deficiency for protein synthesis and other vital metabolic reactions when its amount is restricted. The regulation of cysteine content and its metabolic products, glutathione, taurine and inorganic sulfur compounds, is scarcely explored in human placenta though cysteine metabolism is closely related to the maintenance of redox status and protection from free radical oxidation, elimination of homocysteine and detoxification. These processes are particularly important for placenta which meets substantial changes of oxygen supply during its development, and is the last metabolically active organ between mother and fetus. The abundance of CDO, CSAD, ADO, SUOX, GCLC and GCLM mRNAs was estimated by RT-qPCR and compared with the computationally analyzed microarray gene expression data from GEO, while the level of individual protein – by western-blot analysis, both in placental samples from first and third trimesters of uncomplicated pregnancies. The abundance of CDO mRNA is significantly up-regulated at term compared to the first trimester, the level of GCLM and GCLC mRNAs remains almost unchanged while the abundance of other mRNAs reduces to varying degrees. Overall, the changes of gene expression in third trimester in comparison to the first one estimated by RT-qPCR and microarray coincide while the former data are more informative for the limited group of genes. The data provide the basis for further research of these genes expression and phenotype of human placenta in health and disease.