title: Embryonic poly(A)-binding protein is required at the preantral stage of mouse folliculogenesis for oocyte-somatic communication.
abstract: Embryonic poly(A)-binding protein (EPAB)-deficient mice are infertile due to defects in both the oocyte and the somatic cells of the ovary. Since EPAB is oocyte specific, the abnormalities in the somatic compartment of Epab−/− mice are likely due to factors inherent to the oocyte. Herein, we investigated whether oocyte–somatic communication is disrupted as a result of EPAB deficiency. We found that gap junctions are disrupted at the late preantral stage of folliculogenesis in Epab−/– mice and remain disrupted in cumulus-enclosed oocytes (COCs) from antral follicles. Consistent with the timing of gap junction dysfunction, F-actin staining of transzonal processes (TZPs) is lower in Epab−/− follicles at the late preantral stage and completely absent in Epab−/− COCs. Epab−/− oocytes express significantly lower levels of the junction protein E-cadherin, which is likely to be a contributing factor leading to premature TZP retraction. Overall, these results demonstrate that EPAB is important for oocyte–somatic communication by maintaining TZPs and gap junctions at the preantral stage of folliculogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Katie M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lowther
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Favero
authors.affiliation: Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources and Improvement, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Cai-Rong
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Hugh S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D039122:Poly(A)-Binding Protein I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; D039122:Poly(A)-Binding Protein I; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein; C575837:EPAB protein, mouse; C543076:GJA1 protein, mouse
keywords: translational regulation; gap junctions; transzonal processes; ovary