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Oocyte aging in a marine protostome worm: The roles of maturation‐promoting factor and extracellular signal regulated kinase form of mitogen‐activated protein kinase
Author(s) -
Stricker Stephen A.,
Beckstrom Bradley,
Mendoza Cristina,
Stanislawski Emma,
Wodajo Tewodros
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
development, growth and differentiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1440-169X
pISSN - 0012-1592
DOI - 10.1111/dgd.12269
Subject(s) - mapk/erk pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , oocyte , protein kinase a , kinase , biology , extracellular , mitogen activated protein kinase , maturation promoting factor , cell , cyclin dependent kinase 1 , biochemistry , cell cycle , embryo
The roles of maturation‐promoting factor ( MPF ) and an extracellular signal regulated kinase form of mitogen‐activated protein kinase ( ERK MAPK ) are analyzed during oocyte aging in the marine protostome worm Cerebratulus . About a day after removal from the ovary, unfertilized metaphase‐I‐arrested oocytes of Cerebratulus begin to flatten and swell before eventually lysing, thereby exhibiting characteristics of a necroptotic mode of regulated cell death. Based on immunoblots probed with phospho‐specific antibodies, MPF and ERK are initially active in freshly mature specimens. However, as oocytes age, both kinase activities decline, with ERK deactivation occurring well before MPF downregulation. Experiments using pharmacological modulators indicate that oocyte degradation is promoted by the maturation‐initiated activation of ERK as well as by the deactivation of MPF that occurs in extensively aged specimens. The potential significance of these findings is discussed relative to previously published results for apoptotic eggs and oocytes of echinoderm and vertebrate deuterostomes.