alpha-Spectrin has a stage-specific asymmetrical localization during Xenopus oogenesis.
Xenopus oocyte organization largely depends upon the cytoskeleton distribution, which is dynamically regulated during oogenesis. An actin-based cytoskeleton is present in the cortex starting from stage 1. At stages 4-6, a complex and polarized cytoskeleton network forms in the cytoplasm. In this paper, we studied the distribution of spectrin, a molecule that has binding sites for several cytoskeletal proteins and is responsible for the determination of regionalized membrane territories. The localization of alpha-spectrin mRNA was analyzed during Xenopus oogenesis by in situ hybridization on both whole mount and sections, utilizing a cDNA probe encoding a portion of Xenopus alpha-spectrin. Furthermore, an antibody against mammalian alpha-spectrin was used to localize the protein. Our results showed a stage-dependent mRNA localization and suggested that spectrin may participate in the formation of specific domains in oocytes at stages 1 and 2 and 4-6. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 55:229-239, 2000.
Carotenuto
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Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva e Comparata, Universitá di Napoli, Napoli, Italy.
Vaccaro
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MC
Capriglione
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Petrucci
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TC
Campanella
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D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013049:Spectrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013049:Spectrin