title: The subcortical maternal complex controls symmetric division of mouse zygotes by regulating F-actin dynamics.
abstract: Maternal effect genes play critical roles in early embryogenesis of model organisms where they have been intensively investigated. However, their molecular function in mammals remains largely unknown. Recently, we identified a subcortical maternal complex (SCMC) that contains four proteins encoded by maternal effect genes (Mater, Filia, Floped and Tle6). Here we report that TLE6, similar to FLOPED and MATER, stabilizes the SCMC and is necessary for cleavage beyond the two-cell stage of development. We document that the SCMC is required for formation of the cytoplasmic F-actin meshwork that controls the central position of the spindle and ensures symmetric division of mouse zygotes. We further demonstrate that the SCMC controls formation of the actin cytoskeleton specifically via Cofilin, a key regulator of F-actin assembly. Our results provide molecular insight into the physiological function of TLE6, its interaction with the SCMC and their roles in the symmetric division of the zygote in early mouse development.
authors.affiliation: 1] State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2] Institute of Zoology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Xing-Jiang
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Zhaohong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: 1] State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2] Institute of Zoology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: 1] State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2] Institute of Zoology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Yingchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ou-Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Bo
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Model Animal Research Center and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210061, China.
authors.forename: Min-Sheng
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Haibin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Yuan
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-8028, USA.
authors.forename: Jurrien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D056970:Co-Repressor Proteins; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008938:Mitosis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015053:Zygote / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors; D000199:Actins; D000941:Antigens; D056970:Co-Repressor Proteins; D004527:Egg Proteins; C416503:Nalp5 protein, mouse; C585589:Ooep protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C434948:Tle6 protein, mouse; C532243:filia protein, mouse