title: Fertilization differently affects the levels of cyclin B1 and M-phase promoting factor activity in maturing and metaphase II mouse oocytes.
abstract: Fertilization affects levels of cyclin B1 and M-phase promoting factor (MPF) activity in maturing and metaphase II mouse oocytes in two distinct ways. In metaphase II oocytes, it leads to a Ca(2)(+)-dependent, continuous degradation of cyclin B1 and inactivation of cyclin dependent kinase (CDC2A)-cyclin B1 complex (MPF). In this paper, we show that neither mono- nor polyspermic fertilization of prometaphase I and metaphase I oocytes triggered degradation of cyclin B1. However, polyspermic fertilization of prometaphase I oocytes led to a transient decrease in MPF activity that lasted for 2 h. The inactivation of MPF in polyspermic prometaphase I oocytes did not depend on the fertilization-induced increase in the cytoplasmic concentration of free Ca(2)(+) ions, but was caused, at least in part, by dephosphorylation of CDC2A at threonine 161 (Thr161). We found that polyspermic fertilization did not affect glutathione levels in prometaphase I oocytes, and concluded that the decrease in MPF activity and dephosphorylation of CDC2A at Thr161 in polyspermic prometaphase I oocytes were not caused by a change in the redox status of the cell induced by an introduction of excessive amount of sperm protamines. Instead, we propose that inactivation of MPF activity in polyspermic maturing oocytes is caused by a change in nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio that leads to a 'titration' of kinases and phosphatases responsible for keeping MPF in an active state. This idea is supported by the finding that oocytes fused with thymocytes rather than spermatozoa also showed a transient decrease in MPF activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Embryology, Institute of Zoology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. aajduk@biol.uw.edu.pl
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ajduk
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ciemerych
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nixon
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Swann
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maleszewski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019926:Cyclin B / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D056744:Cyclin B1; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D015870:Gene Expression; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D016200:Maturation-Promoting Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090204:Mesothelin; D008677:Metaphase / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C534700:Ccnb1 protein, mouse; D019926:Cyclin B; D056744:Cyclin B1; C000715528:Msln protein, mouse; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D003513:Cycloheximide; D008156:Luciferases; D011494:Protein Kinases; C102333:histone H1 kinase; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D016200:Maturation-Promoting Factor; D005978:Glutathione; D000090204:Mesothelin; D002118:Calcium