title: The oocyte metaphase arrest.
abstract: Usually, oocyte meiosis reinitiation appears as a two step process during which release from the prophase block is followed by a second arrest in metaphase I or II. In this review, we will examine the mechanisms required to maintain the metaphase arrest and stabilize MPF activity at this stage. Then, we will analyse the processes required to exit from the metaphase block. These may drive the cells forward to the metaphase-anaphase transition, as a result of fertilization, activation or protein synthesis inhibition. Instead, inhibiting protein phosphorylation drives the oocyte back to interphase. All these treatments result in derepression of DNA synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guerrier
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians; D000818:Animals; D004261:DNA Replication; D007448:Invertebrates; D016200:Maturation-Promoting Factor / Q000502:physiology; D000090204:Mesothelin; D008677:Metaphase; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation
chemical_list: C000715528:Msln protein, mouse; D016200:Maturation-Promoting Factor; D000090204:Mesothelin