title: Zinc regulates meiotic resumption in porcine oocytes via a protein kinase C-related pathway.
abstract: Zinc is an extremely important trace element that plays important roles in several biological processes. However, the function of zinc in meiotic division of porcine oocytes is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of zinc during meiotic resumption in in vitro matured porcine oocytes. During meiotic division, a massive release of zinc was observed. The level of free zinc in the cytoplasm significantly increased during maturation. Depletion of zinc using N, N, N', N'-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN), a Zn2+ chelator, blocked meiotic resumption in a dose dependent manner. The level of phosphorylated mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p34cdc2 kinase activity were reduced when zinc was depleted. Moreover, zinc depletion reduced the levels of phosphorylated protein kinase C (PKC) substrates in a dose dependent manner. Real-time PCR analysis showed that expression of the MAPK- and maturation promoting factor related genes C-mos, CyclinB1, and Cdc2 was downregulated following zinc depletion. Treatment with the PKC agonist phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased phosphorylation of PKC substrates and MAPK and increased p34cdc2 kinase activity. This rescued the meiotic arrest, even in the presence of TPEN. Activation of PKC by PMA increased the level of zinc in the cytoplasm. These data demonstrate that zinc is required for meiotic resumption in porcine oocytes, and this appears to be regulated via a PKC related pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea; Brain Korea 21 Center for Bio-Resource Development, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ming-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea; Brain Korea 21 Center for Bio-Resource Development, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea; Brain Korea 21 Center for Bio-Resource Development, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea; Brain Korea 21 Center for Bio-Resource Development, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seon-Hyang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ying-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea; Brain Korea 21 Center for Bio-Resource Development, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Nam-Hyung
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea; Brain Korea 21 Center for Bio-Resource Development, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Xiang-Shun
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D056744:Cyclin B1 / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005029:Ethylenediamines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008540:Meiosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D017231:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mos / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D056744:Cyclin B1; D005029:Ethylenediamines; D017231:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mos; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D015032:Zinc; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; C044387:N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine