title: Turning it on and off: M-phase promoting factor during meiotic maturation and fertilization.
abstract: Maturation (M-phase) promoting factor (MPF) plays a pivotal role in oocytes during their maturation. This review concentrates on its function at three important time-points. First, its activation during meiotic progression from prophase I arrest at germinal vesicle breakdown. Second, its role during the transition from meiosis I to meiosis II, a defining feature of meiosis involving segregation of homologous chromosomes. Third, maintenance of its activity at metaphase II arrest and the necessity for its destruction during oocyte activation. An understanding of how oocytes switch it on and turn it off underpins much of the basic cell biology of oocyte maturation.
authors.affiliation: Cell and Developmental Physiology Research Group, School of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Framlington Place, University of Newcastle, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK. k.t.jones@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Keith T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D005306:Fertilization; D016200:Maturation-Promoting Factor; D008540:Meiosis; D008677:Metaphase; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016200:Maturation-Promoting Factor