Histone H3 phosphorylation during Xenopus oocyte maturation: regulation by the MAP kinase/p90Rsk pathway and uncoupling from DNA condensation.
Here we show that during the meiotic maturation of Xenopus oocytes, histone H3 becomes phosphorylated on serine-10 at about the time of maturation promoting factor activation and meiosis I entry. However, overexpression of cAMP-dependent protein kinase that blocks entry into M phase, also leads to massive serine-10 phosphorylation of histone H3 in intact Xenopus oocytes but does not cause chromosome condensation. We also show that the phosphorylation of histone H3 during oocyte maturation requires the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/p90Rsk pathway. Our results indicate that in G2-arrested oocytes, which are about to enter M phase, histone H3 phosphorylation is not sufficient for chromosome condensation.
Schmitt
Anja
A
European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany.
Gutierrez
Gustavo J
GJ
Lénárt
Péter
P
Ellenberg
Jan
J
Nebreda
Angel R
AR
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004247:DNA / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008540:Meiosis; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010768:Phosphoserine / Q000378:metabolism; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D006657:Histones; D010768:Phosphoserine; D004247:DNA; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases