Egg-to-embryo transition is driven by differential responses to Ca(2+) oscillation number.
Ca(2+) oscillations and signaling represent a basic mechanism for controlling many cellular events. Activation of mouse eggs entrains a temporal series of Ca(2+)-dependent events that include cortical granule exocytosis, cell cycle resumption with concomitant decreases in MPF and MAP kinase activities, and recruitment of maternal mRNAs. The outcome is a switch in cellular differentiation, i.e., the conversion of the egg into the zygote. By activating mouse eggs with experimentally controlled and precisely defined Ca(2+) transients, we demonstrate that each of these events is initiated by a different number of Ca(2+) transients, while their completion requires a greater number of Ca(2+) transients than for their initiation. This combination of differential responses to the number of Ca(2+) transients provides strong evidence that a single Ca(2+) transient-driven signaling system can initiate and drive a cell into a new developmental pathway, as well as can account for the temporal sequence of cellular changes associated with early development.
Ducibella
Tom
T
Department of OB/GYN, New England Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA. tducibella@Lifespan.org
Huneau
Daniel
D
Angelichio
Elizabeth
E
Xu
Zhe
Z
Schultz
Richard M
RM
Kopf
Gregory S
GS
Fissore
Rafael
R
Madoux
Stephane
S
Ozil
Jean-Pierre
JP
D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D016200:Maturation-Promoting Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D000090204:Mesothelin; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015053:Zygote / Q000378:metabolism*
C000715528:Msln protein, mouse; D016200:Maturation-Promoting Factor; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000090204:Mesothelin