Cdc2-cyclin B triggers H3 kinase activation of Aurora-A in Xenopus oocytes

Unraveling the interplay between PKA inhibition and Cdk1 activation during oocyte meiotic maturation

Oocytes are arrested in prophase I. In vertebrates, meiotic resumption is triggered by hormonal stimulation that results in cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) downregulation leading to Cdk1 activation. Yet the pathways connecting PKA to Cdk1 remain unclear. Here, we identify molecular events triggered by PKA downregulation occurring upstream of Cdk1 activation. We describe a two-step regulation controlling cyclin B1 and Mos accumulation, which depends on both translation and stabilization. Cyclin B1 accumulation is triggered by PKA inhibition upstream of Cdk1 activation, while its translation requires Cdk1 activity. Conversely, Mos translation initiates in response to the hormone, but the protein accumulates only downstream of Cdk1. Furthermore, two successive translation waves take place, the first controlled by PKA inhibition and the second by Cdk1 activation. Notably, Arpp19, an essential PKA effector, does not regulate the early PKA-dependent events. This study elucidates how PKA downregulation orchestrates multiple pathways that converge toward Cdk1 activation and induce the oocyte G2/M transition.

Aurora kinase A/AURKA functionally interacts with the mitochondrial ATP synthase to regulate energy metabolism and cell death

Cancer cells often hijack metabolic pathways to obtain the energy required to sustain their proliferation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell metabolism is key to fine-tune the metabolic preference of specific tumors, and potentially offer new therapeutic strategies. Here, we show that the pharmacological inhibition of mitochondrial Complex V delays the cell cycle by arresting breast cancer cell models in the G0/G1 phase. Under these conditions, the abundance of the multifunctional protein Aurora kinase A/AURKA is specifically lowered. We then demonstrate that AURKA functionally interacts with the mitochondrial Complex V core subunits ATP5F1A and ATP5F1B. Altering the AURKA/ATP5F1A/ATP5F1B nexus is sufficient to trigger G0/G1 arrest, and this is accompanied by decreased glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration rates. Last, we discover that the roles of the AURKA/ATP5F1A/ATP5F1B nexus depend on the specific metabolic propensity of triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, where they correlate with cell fate. On one hand, the nexus induces G0/G1 arrest in cells relying on oxidative phosphorylation as the main source of energy. On the other hand, it allows to bypass cell cycle arrest and it triggers cell death in cells with a glycolytic metabolism. Altogether, we provide evidence that AURKA and mitochondrial Complex V subunits cooperate to maintain cell metabolism in breast cancer cells. Our work paves the way to novel anti-cancer therapies targeting the AURKA/ATP5F1A/ATP5F1B nexus to lower cancer cell metabolism and proliferation.

Spatiotemporal regulation of maternal mRNAs during vertebrate oocyte meiotic maturation

Vertebrate oocytes face a particular challenge concerning the regulation of gene expression during meiotic maturation. Global transcription becomes quiescent in fully grown oocytes, remains halted throughout maturation and fertilization, and only resumes upon embryonic genome activation. Hence, the oocyte meiotic maturation process is largely regulated by protein synthesis from pre-existing maternal messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that are transcribed and stored during oocyte growth. Rapidly developing genome-wide techniques have greatly expanded our insights into the global translation changes and possible regulatory mechanisms during oocyte maturation. The storage, translation, and processing of maternal mRNAs are thought to be regulated by factors interacting with elements in the mRNA molecules. Additionally, posttranscriptional modifications of mRNAs, such as methylation and uridylation, have recently been demonstrated to play crucial roles in maternal mRNA destabilization. However, a comprehensive understanding of the machineries that regulate maternal mRNA fate during oocyte maturation is still lacking. In particular, how the transcripts of important cell cycle components are stabilized, recruited at the appropriate time for translation, and eliminated to modulate oocyte meiotic progression remains unclear. A better understanding of these mechanisms will provide invaluable insights for the preconditions of developmental competence acquisition, with important implications for the treatment of infertility. This review discusses how the storage, localization, translation, and processing of oocyte mRNAs are regulated, and how these contribute to oocyte maturation progression.

Translational Control of Xenopus Oocyte Meiosis: Toward the Genomic Era

The study of oocytes has made enormous contributions to the understanding of the G2/M transition. The complementarity of investigations carried out on various model organisms has led to the identification of the M-phase promoting factor (MPF) and to unravel the basis of cell cycle regulation. Thanks to the power of biochemical approaches offered by frog oocytes, this model has allowed to identify the core signaling components involved in the regulation of M-phase. A central emerging layer of regulation of cell division regards protein translation. Oocytes are a unique model to tackle this question as they accumulate large quantities of dormant mRNAs to be used during meiosis resumption and progression, as well as the cell divisions during early embryogenesis. Since these events occur in the absence of transcription, they require cascades of successive unmasking, translation, and discarding of these mRNAs, implying a fine regulation of the timing of specific translation. In the last years, the Xenopus genome has been sequenced and annotated, enabling the development of omics techniques in this model and starting its transition into the genomic era. This review has critically described how the different phases of meiosis are orchestrated by changes in gene expression. The physiological states of the oocyte have been described together with the molecular mechanisms that control the critical transitions during meiosis progression, highlighting the connection between translation control and meiosis dynamics.

SGK phosphorylates Cdc25 and Myt1 to trigger cyclin B-Cdk1 activation at the meiotic G2/M transition

The kinase cyclin B-Cdk1 complex is a master regulator of M-phase in both mitosis and meiosis. At the G2/M transition, cyclin B-Cdk1 activation is initiated by a trigger that reverses the balance of activities between Cdc25 and Wee1/Myt1 and is further accelerated by autoregulatory loops. In somatic cell mitosis, this trigger was recently proposed to be the cyclin A-Cdk1/Plk1 axis. However, in the oocyte meiotic G2/M transition, in which hormonal stimuli induce cyclin B-Cdk1 activation, cyclin A-Cdk1 is nonessential and hence the trigger remains elusive. Here, we show that SGK directly phosphorylates Cdc25 and Myt1 to trigger cyclin B-Cdk1 activation in starfish oocytes. Upon hormonal stimulation of the meiotic G2/M transition, SGK is activated by cooperation between the Gβγ-PI3K pathway and an unidentified pathway downstream of Gβγ, called the atypical Gβγ pathway. These findings identify the trigger in oocyte meiosis and provide insights into the role and activation of SGK.

Cis-trimethoxy resveratrol induces intrinsic apoptosis via prometaphase arrest and prolonged CDK1 activation pathway in human Jurkat T cells

Cis-trimethoxy resveratrol (cis-3M-RES) induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity and apoptotic DNA fragmentation in Jurkat T cell clones (JT/Neo); however, it induced only cytostasis in BCL-2-overexpressing cells (JT/BCL-2). Treatment with 0.25 μM cis-3M-RES induced G₂/M arrest, BAK activation, Δψm loss, caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage in JT/Neo cells time-dependently but did not induce these events, except G₂/M arrest, in JT/BCL-2 cells. Moreover, cis-3M-RES induced CDK1 activation, BCL-2 phosphorylation at Ser-70, MCL-1 phosphorylation at Ser-159/Thr-163, and BIM (BIM_EL and BIM_L) phosphorylation irrespective of BCL-2 overexpression. Enforced G₁/S arrest by using a G₁/S blocker aphidicolin completely inhibited cis-3M-RES-induced apoptotic events. Cis-3M-RES-induced phosphorylation of BCL-2 family proteins and mitochondrial apoptotic events were suppressed by a validated CDK1 inhibitor RO3306. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that cis-3M-RES induced mitotic spindle defects and prometaphase arrest. The rate of intracellular polymeric tubulin to monomeric tubulin decreased markedly by cis-3M-RES (0.1-1.0 μM). Wild-type Jurkat clone A3, FADD-deficient Jurkat clone I2.1, and caspase-8-deficient Jurkat clone I9.2 exhibited similar susceptibilities to the cytotoxicity of cis-3M-RES, excluding contribution of the extrinsic death receptor-dependent pathway to the apoptosis. IC₅₀ values of cis-3M-RES against Jurkat E6.1, U937, HL-60, and HeLa cells were 0.07-0.17 μM, whereas those against unstimulated human peripheral T cells and phytohaemagglutinin A-stimulated peripheral T cells were >10.0 and 0.23 μM, respectively. These results indicate that the antitumor activity of cis-3M-RES is mediated by microtubule damage, and subsequent prometaphase arrest and prolonged CDK1 activation that cause BAK-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis, and suggest that cis-3M-RES is a promising agent to treat leukemia.

The Translation of Cyclin B1 and B2 is Differentially Regulated during Mouse Oocyte Reentry into the Meiotic Cell Cycle

Control of protein turnover is critical for meiotic progression. Using RiboTag immunoprecipitation, RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assay, we investigated how rates of mRNA translation, protein synthesis and degradation contribute to the steady state level of Cyclin B1 and B2 in mouse oocytes. Ribosome loading onto Ccnb1 and Mos mRNAs increases during cell cycle reentry, well after germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). This is followed by the translation of reporters containing 3′ untranslated region of Mos or Ccnb1 and the accumulation of Mos and Cyclin B1 proteins. Conversely, ribosome loading onto Ccnb2 mRNA and Cyclin B2 protein level undergo minimal changes during meiotic reentry. Degradation rates of Cyclin B1 or B2 protein at the GV stage are comparable. The translational activation of Mos and Ccnb1, but not Ccnb2, mRNAs is dependent on the RNA binding protein CPEB1. Inhibition of Cdk1 activity, but not Aurora A kinase activity, prevents the translation of Mos or Ccnb1 reporters, suggesting that MPF is required for their translation in mouse oocytes. Conversely, Ccnb2 translation is insensitive to Cdk1 inhibition. Thus, the poised state that allows rapid meiotic reentry in mouse GV oocytes may be determined by the differential translational control of two Cyclins.

Prometaphase arrest-dependent phosphorylation of Bcl-2 and Bim reduces the association of Bcl-2 with Bak or Bim, provoking Bak activation and mitochondrial apoptosis in nocodazole-treated Jurkat T cells

Treatment of Jurkat T cells with the microtubule-depolymerizing agent nocodazole (NOC) caused prometaphase arrest and apoptosis. NOC-induced mitochondrial apoptotic events including Bak activation, Δψm loss, cytochrome c release, and caspase cascade activation were blocked by Bcl-2 overexpression. However, mitotic arrest, Cdc25C activation, upregulation of cyclin B1 levels, Cdk1 activation, Bcl-2 phosphorylation at Thr-56 and Ser-70, and Bim phosphorylation were retained. The treatment of Jurkat T cells concomitantly with NOC and the G1/S-blocking agent hydroxyurea resulted in G1/S arrest and complete abrogation of all apoptotic events. The association of Bcl-2 with Bim or Bak declined after the prometaphase arrest-dependent phosphorylation of Bcl-2 and Bim, whereas the association of Bcl-2 with Bax remained relatively constant. Although Bax was redistributed from the cytosol to the mitochondria, resulting in an increase in the mitochondrial level of Bax following NOC treatment, the subcellular localization of Bcl-2, Bim, Bak and apoptosis-inducing factor was confined to the mitochondrial fraction irrespective of NOC treatment. Experiments using selective caspase inhibitors showed that mitochondria-dependent activation of caspase-9 and -3 was crucial for NOC-induced apoptosis. NOC-induced phosphorylation of Bcl-2 and Bim, Δψm loss, and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic events were significantly suppressed by a Cdk1 inhibitor roscovitine, but not by the JNK inhibitor SP600125 or the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. These results show that the prometaphase arrest-dependent phosphorylation of Bcl-2 and Bim, which was mediated by Cdk1, could reduce the association of Bcl-2 with Bak or Bim to allow Bak activation and mitochondrial apoptotic events in Jurkat T cells exposed to NOC.

Specificity factors in cytoplasmic polyadenylation

Poly(A) tail elongation after export of an messenger RNA (mRNA) to the cytoplasm is called cytoplasmic polyadenylation. It was first discovered in oocytes and embryos, where it has roles in meiosis and development. In recent years, however, has been implicated in many other processes, including synaptic plasticity and mitosis. This review aims to introduce cytoplasmic polyadenylation with an emphasis on the factors and elements mediating this process for different mRNAs and in different animal species. We will discuss the RNA sequence elements mediating cytoplasmic polyadenylation in the 3' untranslated regions of mRNAs, including the CPE, MBE, TCS, eCPE, and C-CPE. In addition to describing the role of general polyadenylation factors, we discuss the specific RNA binding protein families associated with cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements, including CPEB (CPEB1, CPEB2, CPEB3, and CPEB4), Pumilio (PUM2), Musashi (MSI1, MSI2), zygote arrest (ZAR2), ELAV like proteins (ELAVL1, HuR), poly(C) binding proteins (PCBP2, αCP2, hnRNP-E2), and Bicaudal C (BICC1). Some emerging themes in cytoplasmic polyadenylation will be highlighted. To facilitate understanding for those working in different organisms and fields, particularly those who are analyzing high throughput data, HUGO gene nomenclature for the human orthologs is used throughout. Where human orthologs have not been clearly identified, reference is made to protein families identified in man.

Role of cyclins in controlling progression of mammalian spermatogenesis

Cyclins are key regulators of the mammalian cell cycle, functioning primarily in concert with their catalytic partners, the cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks). While their function during mitosis in somatic cells has been extensively documented, their function during both mitosis and meiosis in the germ line is poorly understood. From the perspective of cell cycle regulation there are several aspects of mammalian spermatogenesis that suggest unique modes of regulation and hence, possible unique functions for the cyclins. This review will summarize our current understanding of cyclin expression and function in the male germ line, with particular focus on the A and E type cyclins in the mouse model. While the focus is on mammalian spermatogenesis, we note contrasts with similar functions in the female germ line when relevant and also draw upon observations in other model systems to provide further insight.

Autoregulation of Musashi1 mRNA translation during Xenopus oocyte maturation

The mRNA translational control protein, Musashi, plays a critical role in cell fate determination through sequence-specific interactions with select target mRNAs. In proliferating stem cells, Musashi exerts repression of target mRNAs to promote cell cycle progression. During stem cell differentiation, Musashi target mRNAs are de-repressed and translated. Recently, we have reported an obligatory requirement for Musashi to direct translational activation of target mRNAs during Xenopus oocyte meiotic cell cycle progression. Despite the importance of Musashi in cell cycle regulation, only a few target mRNAs have been fully characterized. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of a new Musashi target mRNA in Xenopus oocytes. We demonstrate that progesterone-stimulated translational activation of the Xenopus Musashi1 mRNA is regulated through a functional Musashi binding element (MBE) in the Musashi1 mRNA 3' untranslated region (3' UTR). Mutational disruption of the MBE prevented translational activation of Musashi1 mRNA and its interaction with Musashi protein. Further, elimination of Musashi function through microinjection of inhibitory antisense oligonucleotides prevented progesterone-induced polyadenylation and translation of the endogenous Musashi1 mRNA. Thus, Xenopus Musashi proteins regulate translation of the Musashi1 mRNA during oocyte maturation. Our results indicate that the hierarchy of sequential and dependent mRNA translational control programs involved in directing progression through meiosis are reinforced by an intricate series of nested, positive feedback loops, including Musashi mRNA translational autoregulation. These autoregulatory positive feedback loops serve to amplify a weak initiating signal into a robust commitment for the oocyte to progress through the cell cycle and become competent for fertilization.

AURKB and MAPK involvement in the regulation of the early stages of mouse zygote development

Aurora kinases have become a hot topic for research as they have been found to play an important role in various stages of mitotic cell division and to participate in malignant conversions of tumors. The participation of Aurora kinases in the regulation of oocyte meiosis has been recently reported, but their participation in mammalian early embryonic development remained unclear. The object of our study was to establish the spatio-temporal expression pattern of Aurora kinase B (AURKB) in mouse zygotes during the first cleavage, to reveal its functions in the early development of mouse zygotes, and to define the involvement of AURKB in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Our results showed that in mouse zygotes AURKB expression increased in G1 phase and peaked in M phase. AURKB protein distribution was found to be in association with nuclei and distributed throughout the cytoplasm in a cell cycle-dependent manner. Functional disruption of AURKB resulted in abnormal division phenotypes or mitotic impairments. U0126, a specific mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, caused significantly altered morphologies of early embryos together with a decrease in protein expression and kinase activity of AURKB. Our results indicated that the activity of AURKB was required for regulating multiple stages of mitotic progression in the early development of mouse zygotes and was correlated with the activation of the MAPK pathway.

Greatwall and Polo-like kinase 1 coordinate to promote checkpoint recovery

Checkpoint recovery upon completion of DNA repair allows the cell to return to normal cell cycle progression and is thus a crucial process that determines cell fate after DNA damage. We previously studied this process in Xenopus egg extracts and established Greatwall (Gwl) as an important regulator. Here we show that preactivated Gwl kinase can promote checkpoint recovery independently of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) or Plx1 (Xenopus polo-like kinase 1), whereas depletion of Gwl from extracts exhibits no synergy with that of Plx1 in delaying checkpoint recovery, suggesting a distinct but related relationship between Gwl and Plx1. In further revealing their functional relationship, we found mutual dependence for activation of Gwl and Plx1 during checkpoint recovery, as well as their direct association. We characterized the protein association in detail and recapitulated it in vitro with purified proteins, which suggests direct interaction. Interestingly, Gwl interaction with Plx1 and its phosphorylation by Plx1 both increase at the stage of checkpoint recovery. More importantly, Plx1-mediated phosphorylation renders Gwl more efficient in promoting checkpoint recovery, suggesting a functional involvement of such regulation in the recovery process. Finally, we report an indirect regulatory mechanism involving Aurora A that may account for Gwl-dependent regulation of Plx1 during checkpoint recovery. Our results thus reveal novel mechanisms underlying the involvement of Gwl in checkpoint recovery, in particular, its functional relationship with Plx1, a well characterized regulator of checkpoint recovery. Coordinated interplays between Plx1 and Gwl are required for reactivation of these kinases from the G(2)/M DNA damage checkpoint and efficient checkpoint recovery.

Developmental timing of mRNA translation--integration of distinct regulatory elements

Targeted mRNA translation is emerging as a critical mechanism to control gene expression during developmental processes. Exciting new findings have revealed a critical role for regulatory elements within the mRNA untranslated regions to direct the timing of mRNA translation. Regulatory elements can be targeted by sequence-specific binding proteins to direct either repression or activation of mRNA translation in response to developmental signals. As new regulatory elements continue to be identified it has become clear that targeted mRNAs can contain multiple regulatory elements, directing apparently contradictory translational patterns. How is this complex regulatory input integrated? In this review, we focus on a new challenge area-how sequence-specific RNA binding proteins respond to developmental signals and functionally integrate to regulate the extent and timing of target mRNA translation. We discuss current understanding with a particular emphasis on the control of cell cycle progression that is mediated through a complex interplay of distinct mRNA regulatory elements during Xenopus oocyte maturation.

Cdk1 activity is required for mitotic activation of aurora A during G2/M transition of human cells

In mammalian cells entry into and progression through mitosis are regulated by multiple mitotic kinases. How mitotic kinases interact with each other and coordinately regulate mitosis remains to be fully understood. Here we employed a chemical biology approach using selective small molecule kinase inhibitors to dissect the relationship between Cdk1 and Aurora A kinases during G(2)/M transition. We find that activation of Aurora A first occurs at centrosomes at late G(2) and is required for centrosome separation independently of Cdk1 activity. Upon entry into mitosis, Aurora A then becomes fully activated downstream of Cdk1 activation. Inactivation of Aurora A or Plk1 individually during a synchronized cell cycle shows no significant effect on Cdk1 activation and entry into mitosis. However, simultaneous inactivation of both Aurora A and Plk1 markedly delays Cdk1 activation and entry into mitosis, suggesting that Aurora A and Plk1 have redundant functions in the feedback activation of Cdk1. Together, our data suggest that Cdk1, Aurora A, and Plk1 mitotic kinases participate in a feedback activation loop and that activation of Cdk1 initiates the feedback loop activity, leading to rapid and timely entry into mitosis in human cells. In addition, live cell imaging reveals that the nuclear cycle of cells becomes uncoupled from cytokinesis upon inactivation of both Aurora A and Aurora B kinases and continues to oscillate in a Cdk1-dependent manner in the absence of cytokinesis, resulting in multinucleated, polyploidy cells.

Enforcing temporal control of maternal mRNA translation during oocyte cell-cycle progression

Meiotic cell-cycle progression in progesterone-stimulated Xenopus oocytes requires that the translation of pre-existing maternal mRNAs occur in a strict temporal order. Timing of translation is regulated through elements within the mRNA 3' untranslated region (3' UTR), which respond to cell cycle-dependant signalling. One element that has been previously implicated in the temporal control of mRNA translation is the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE). In this study, we show that the CPE does not direct early mRNA translation. Rather, early translation is directed through specific early factors, including the Musashi-binding element (MBE) and the MBE-binding protein, Musashi. Our findings indicate that although the cyclin B5 3' UTR contains both CPEs and an MBE, the MBE is the critical regulator of early translation. The cyclin B2 3' UTR contains CPEs, but lacks an MBE and is translationally activated late in maturation. Finally, utilizing antisense oligonucleotides to attenuate endogenous Musashi synthesis, we show that Musashi is critical for the initiation of early class mRNA translation and for the subsequent activation of CPE-dependant mRNA translation.

Porcine Aurora A accelerates Cyclin B and Mos synthesis and promotes meiotic resumption of porcine oocytes

Full-grown oocytes arrested at germinal vesicle stage contain many dormant maternal mRNAs, and Aurora A has been reported to play a key role for the translation of these maternal mRNAs in Xenopus oocytes. Although the presence of Aurora A has been reported in mammals, the functions of Aurora A on the protein synthesis and the meiotic resumption have never been elucidated in mammalian oocytes. In the present study, the effects of porcine Aurora A on meiotic resumption of porcine oocytes were examined. At first, we cloned porcine Aurora A from total RNA of immature porcine oocytes by RT-PCR and obtained full-length cDNA that was 77%, 86% and 54% homologous with mouse, human and Xenopus Aurora A, respectively. The Aurora A mRNA and large amounts of protein were present throughout maturation period in porcine oocytes. The overexpression of porcine Aurora A by the mRNA injection into immature porcine oocytes had no effects on Cyclin B synthesis and meiotic resumption. Therefore we constructed a mutated Aurora A (AA-Aurora A), which was replaced the expecting inhibitory phosphorylation sites, serines 283 and 284, to non-phosphorylatable alanines. The oocytes expressed AA-Aurora A were accelerated their Cyclin B synthesis and Rsk phosphorylation, an indicator of Mos synthesis, then their meiotic resumption was promoted significantly. These results suggest for the first time in mammalian oocytes that mammalian Aurora A stimulates the protein synthesis and promotes the meiotic resumption. In addition, we identified the inhibitory phosphorylation sites of porcine Aurora A, and indicate the presence of phosphorylation-dependent regulation mechanisms in mammalian Aurora A.

Signaling networks during development: the case of asymmetric cell division in the Drosophila nervous system

Remarkable progress in genetics and molecular biology has made possible the sequencing of the genomes from numerous species. In the post-genomic era, technical developments in the fields of proteomics and bioinformatics are poised to further catapult our understanding of protein structure, function and organization into complex signaling networks. One of the greatest challenges in the field now is to unravel the functional signaling networks and their spatio-temporal regulation in living cells. Here, the need for such in vivo system-wide level approach is illustrated in relation to the mechanisms that underlie the biological process of asymmetric cell division. Genomic, post-genomic and live imaging techniques are reviewed in light of the huge impact they are having on this field for the discovering of new proteins and for the in vivo analysis of asymmetric cell division. The proteins, signals and the emerging networking of functional connections that is arising between them during this process in the Drosophila nervous system will be also discussed.

Aurora-A: the maker and breaker of spindle poles

The gene encoding the Aurora-A protein kinase is located in the 20q13 breast cancer amplicon and is also overexpressed in colorectal, pancreatic and gastric tumours. Although Aurora-A may not be a bona fide oncoprotein in humans, it is a promising drug target in cancer therapy. Thus, it is surprising that so little is known of its role in normal cells. The primary function of Aurora-A is to promote bipolar spindle assembly, but the molecular details of this process remained obscure until recently. The discovery of several novel Aurora-A-binding proteins and substrates has implicated Aurora-A in centrosome maturation and separation, acentrosomal and centrosomal spindle assembly, kinetochore function, cytokinesis and in cell fate determination. Here we discuss recent advances in determining the early mitotic role of Aurora-A, with a strong emphasis on its function at the mitotic spindle poles.

Regulation of the Aurora B chromosome passenger protein complex during oocyte maturation in Xenopus laevis

The dynamics of the Aurora B protein kinase during Xenopus oocyte meiotic maturation were examined. Resting G2 oocytes express inactive Aurora B that is not associated with other subunits of the chromosome passenger complex (CPC). Activity increases near the time of germinal vesicle breakdown in progesterone-treated oocytes, and this increase is correlated with the synthesis of inner centromere protein (INCENP) and survivin, components of the CPC. Ablation of INCENP synthesis led to the failure of progesterone treatment to activate Aurora B, but biochemical progression through the meiosis I-to-II transition and arrest at metaphase II were not affected. At fertilization, Aurora B was deactivated in concert with the degradation of INCENP, and the levels of Aurora B kinase activity and INCENP oscillated in subsequent embryonic cell cycles. Prevention of the decrease in Aurora B activity at fertilization by expression of ectopic wild-type INCENP, but not kinase-dead Aurora B INCENP, blocked calcium-induced exit from metaphase arrest in egg extracts.

Translational control by cytoplasmic polyadenylation in Xenopus oocytes

Elongation of the poly(A) tails of specific mRNAs in the cytoplasm is a crucial regulatory step in oogenesis and early development of many animal species. The best studied example is the regulation of translation by cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements (CPEs) in the 3′ untranslated region of mRNAs involved in Xenopus oocyte maturation. In this review we discuss the mechanism of translational control by the CPE binding protein (CPEB) in Xenopus oocytes as follows:1.

The cytoplasmic polyadenylation machinery such as CPEB, the subunits of cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF), symplekin, Gld-2 and poly(A) polymerase (PAP).

2.

The signal transduction that leads to the activation of CPE-mediated polyadenylation during oocyte maturation, including the potential roles of kinases such as MAPK, Aurora A, CamKII, cdk1/Ringo and cdk1/cyclin B.

3.

The role of deadenylation and translational repression, including the potential involvement of PARN, CCR4/NOT, maskin, pumilio, Xp54 (Ddx6, Rck), other P-body components and isoforms of the cap binding initiation factor eIF4E.

Finally we discuss some of the remaining questions regarding the mechanisms of translational regulation by cytoplasmic polyadenylation and give our view on where our knowledge is likely to be expanded in the near future.

Spatio-Temporal Expression Patterns of Aurora Kinases A, B, and C and Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation-Element-Binding Protein in Bovine Oocytes During Meiotic Maturation1

Maturation of immature bovine oocytes requires cytoplasmic polyadenylation and synthesis of a number of proteins involved in meiotic progression and metaphase-II arrest. Aurora serine-threonine kinases--localized in centrosomes, chromosomes, and midbody--regulate chromosome segregation and cytokinesis in somatic cells. In frog and mouse oocytes, Aurora A regulates polyadenylation-dependent translation of several mRNAs such as MOS and CCNB1, presumably by phosphorylating CPEB, and Aurora B phosphorylates histone H3 during meiosis. We analyzed the expression of three Aurora kinase genes--AURKA, AURKB, and AURKC--in bovine oocytes during meiosis by reverse transcription followed by quantitative real-time PCR and immunodetection. Aurora A was the most abundant form in oocytes, both at mRNA and protein levels. AURKA protein progressively accumulated in the oocyte cytoplasm during antral follicle growth and in vitro maturation. AURKB associated with metaphase chromosomes. AURKB, AURKC, and Thr-phosphorylated AURKA were detected at a contractile ring/midbody during the first polar body extrusion. CPEB, localized in oocyte cytoplasm, was hyperphosphorylated during prophase/metaphase-I transition. Most CPEB degraded in metaphase-II oocytes and remnants remained localized in a contractile ring. Roscovitine, U0126, and metformin inhibited meiotic divisions; they all induced a decrease of CCNB1 and phospho-MAPK3/1 levels and prevented CPEB degradation. However, only metformin depleted AURKA. The Aurora kinase inhibitor VX680 at 100 nmol/L did not inhibit meiosis but led to multinuclear oocytes due to the failure of the polar body extrusion. Thus, in bovine oocyte meiosis, massive destruction of CPEB accompanies metaphase-I/II transition, and Aurora kinases participate in regulating segregation of the chromosomes, maintenance of metaphase-II, and formation of the first polar body.

MAPK interacts with XGef and is required for CPEB activation during meiosis in Xenopus oocytes

Meiotic progression in Xenopus oocytes, and all other oocytes investigated, is dependent on polyadenylation-induced translation of stockpiled maternal mRNAs. Early during meiotic resumption, phosphorylation of CPE-binding protein (CPEB) is required for polyadenylation-induced translation of mRNAs encoding cell cycle regulators. Xenopus Gef (XGef), a Rho-family guanine-exchange factor, influences the activating phosphorylation of CPEB. An exchange-deficient version of XGef does not, therefore implicating Rho-family GTPase function in early meiosis. We show here that Clostridium difficile Toxin B, a Rho-family GTPase inhibitor, does not impair early CPEB phosphorylation or progression to germinal vesicle breakdown, indicating that XGef does not influence these events through activation of a Toxin-B-sensitive GTPase. Using the inhibitors U0126 for mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and ZM447439 for Aurora kinase A and Aurora kinase B, we found that MAPK is required for phosphorylation of CPEB, whereas Aurora kinases are not. Furthermore, we do not detect active Aurora kinase A in early meiosis. By contrast, we observe an early, transient activation of MAPK, independent of Mos protein expression. MAPK directly phosphorylates CPEB on four residues (T22, T164, S184, S248), but not on S174, a key residue for activating CPEB function. Notably, XGef immunoprecipitates contain MAPK, and this complex can phosphorylate CPEB. MAPK may prime CPEB for phosphorylation on S174 by an as-yet-unidentified kinase or may activate this kinase.

The influence of follicle size, FSH-enriched maturation medium, and early cleavage on bovine oocyte maternal mRNA levels

Transcription is arrested in the bovine oocyte within the first few hours of in vitro maturation, thus the stored maternal mRNAs accumulated in the oocyte are essential to sustain development until the Maternal-Zygotic Transition. In vivo matured oocytes have superior blastocyst formation rates than in vitro matured oocytes, suggesting that the mRNA content of these oocytes is of higher quality. To determine which transcripts may be associated with developmental competence, a Suppressive Subtractive Hybridization was performed between oocytes collected by ovariectomy at 6 hr post-LH surge and oocytes from slaughterhouse collected after 6 hr of maturation, resulting in a library enriched in these functionally important mRNAs. The clones were spotted onto a cDNA microarray and transcripts potentially associated with developmental competence were hybridized onto these slides. Hybridizations were performed with transcripts up-regulated in oocytes cultured for 6 hr in the presence or absence of rFSH in vitro, and secondly with transcripts up regulated in early-cleaving embryos versus those at the one-cell stage at 36 hr postfertilization. From these hybridizations, 13 candidates were selected. Their functional association with embryonic competence was validated by measuring their relative transcript levels by quantitative real-time PCR in eight different conditions: oocytes cultured with or without rFSH, early--versus late-cleaving embryos, and oocytes from different follicle sizes (1-3, 3-5, 5-8, and >8 mm of diameter). The gene candidates CCNB2, PTTG1, H2A, CKS1, PSMB2, SKIIP, CDC5L, RGS16, and PRDX1 showed a significant quantitative association with competence compared to BMP15, GDF9, CCNB1, and STK6.

Mitotic activation of the kinase Aurora-A requires its binding partner Bora

The protein kinase Aurora-A is required for centrosome maturation, spindle assembly, and asymmetric protein localization during mitosis. Here, we describe the identification of Bora, a conserved protein that is required for the activation of Aurora-A at the onset of mitosis. In the Drosophila peripheral nervous system, bora mutants have defects during asymmetric cell division identical to those observed in aurora-A. Furthermore, overexpression of bora can rescue defects caused by mutations in aurora-A. Bora is conserved in vertebrates, and both Drosophila and human Bora can bind to Aurora-A and activate the kinase in vitro. In interphase cells, Bora is a nuclear protein, but upon entry into mitosis, Bora is excluded from the nucleus and translocates into the cytoplasm in a Cdc2-dependent manner. We propose a model in which activation of Cdc2 initiates the release of Bora into the cytoplasm where it can bind and activate Aurora-A.

Identification of both Myt-1 and Wee-1 as necessary mediators of the p21-independent inactivation of the cdc-2/cyclin B1 complex and growth inhibition of TRAMP cancer cells by genistein

BACKGROUND

The G2/M cell-cycle arrest is one mechanism by which genistein exerts its anti-proliferative effects, and the proposed underlying causes encompass the transcriptional repression of cyclin B1 and the activation of p21. However, the involvement of upstream kinases Myt-1 and Wee-1 in this arrest remains to be elucidated.

METHODS

Myt-1 and Wee-1 modulation by genistein was examined via Western blot analysis and the effect of their inhibition by siRNA on cyclin B1 levels/localization, cdc2 kinase activity, and cellular proliferation of genistein-treated TRAMP-C2 cells was determined.

RESULTS

The sustained G2/M arrest by genistein in TRAMP-C2 cells is associated with increased phospho-cdc2(Tyr15), decreased cdc2 protein, and cytoplasmic retention of cyclinB1, resulting in decreased cdc2 kinase activity independently of p21. Genistein treatment increased Myt-1 levels and decreased Wee-1 phosphorylation. Downregulation of Myt-1 and Wee-1 by siRNA restored cdc2 levels, its kinase activity, cyclinB1 nuclear localization, and partially restored cell proliferation of genistein-treated cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Myt-1 and Wee-1 rather than p21 are necessary for genistein-induced G2/M arrest in TRAMP-C2 cells and their inhibition partially restores proliferation of TRAMP-C2 cells in the presence of genistein.

Inhibition of Aurora A in response to DNA damage

Mitotic kinases are the ultimate target of pathways sensing genotoxic damage and impinging on the cell cycle machinery. Here, we provide evidence that Aurora A (AurA) was inhibited upon generation of double-strand breaks in DNA. We demonstrate that AurA was not downstream of CDK1 and that inhibition of AurA and CDK1 by DNA damage occurred independently. Using a cell line functionally deficient in Chk2, a selective Chk1 inhibitor and siRNA to Chk1, we show that DNA-damage signals were delivered to AurA through a Chk1-dependent pathway. With regard to the molecular mechanism of AurA inhibition, we found that the point mutation Ser(342)>Ala rendered AurA resistant to inhibition by DNA damage. By means of two distinct approaches we examined the impact of reconstitution of AurA activity in DNA-damaged cells: (i) transient expression of wild-type and Ser(342)>Ala mutant, but not kinase-dead, AurA led to bypass of the DNA damage block; (ii) direct transduction of highly active wt-AurA into G2 arrested cells precisely after induction of DNA damage resulted in mitotic entry. We show that the mechanism through which AurA allowed entry into mitosis was reactivation of CDK1, thus indicating that AurA plays a key role upstream of CDK1. A model depicting the possible role of AurA at the onset of mitosis and upon DNA damage is presented.

Differential regulation of Cdc2 and Aurora-A in Xenopus oocytes: a crucial role of phosphatase 2A

The success of cell division relies on the activation of its master regulator Cdc2-cyclin B, and many other kinases controlling cellular organization, such as Aurora-A. Most of these kinase activities are regulated by phosphorylation. Despite numerous studies showing that okadaic acid-sensitive phosphatases regulate both Cdc2 and Aurora-A activation, their identity has not yet been established in Xenopus oocytes and the importance of their regulation has not been evaluated. Using an oocyte cell-free system, we demonstrate that PP2A depletion is sufficient to lead to Cdc2 activation, whereas Aurora-A activation depends on Cdc2 activity. The activity level of PP1 does not affect Cdc2 kinase activation promoted by PP2A removal. PP1 inhibition is also not sufficient to lead to Aurora-A activation in the absence of active Cdc2. We therefore conclude that in Xenopus oocytes, PP2A is the key phosphatase that negatively regulates Cdc2 activation. Once this negative regulator is removed, endogenous kinases are able to turn on the activator Cdc2 system without any additional stimulation. In contrast, Aurora-A activation is indirectly controlled by Cdc2 activity independently of either PP2A or PP1. This strongly suggests that in Xenopus oocytes, Aurora-A activation is mainly controlled by the specific stimulation of kinases under the control of Cdc2 and not by downregulation of phosphatase.

RNA-binding proteins in early development

RNA-binding proteins play a major part in the control of gene expression during early development. At this stage, the majority of regulation occurs at the levels of translation and RNA localization. These processes are, in general, mediated by RNA-binding proteins interacting with specific sequence motifs in the 3'-untranslated regions of their target RNAs. Although initial work concentrated on the analysis of these sequences and their trans-acting factors, we are now beginning to gain an understanding of the mechanisms by which some of these proteins function. In this review, we will describe a number of different families of RNA-binding proteins, grouping them together on the basis of common regulatory strategies, and emphasizing the recurrent themes that occur, both across different species and as a response to different biological problems.

Several signaling pathways are involved in the control of cattle oocyte maturation

The main limit of in vitro production of domestic mammal embryos comes from the low capacity of in vitro matured oocytes to develop after fertilization. As soon as they are separated from follicular environment, oocytes spontaneously resume meiosis without completion of their terminal differentiation. Roscovitine (ROS), an inhibitor of M-phase promoting factor (MPF) kinase activity reversibly blocks the meiotic resumption in vitro. However, in cattle maturing oocytes several cellular events such as protein synthesis and phosphorylation, chromatin condensation and nuclear envelope folding escape ROS inhibition suggesting the alternative pathways in oocyte maturation. We compared the level of synthesis and phosphorylation of several protein kinases during bovine cumulus oocyte complex (COC) maturation in vitro in the presence or not of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and ROS. We showed that during the EGF-stimulated maturation, ROS neither affected the decrease of EGF receptor (EGFR) nor did inhibit totally its phosphorylation in cumulus cells and also did not totally eliminate tyrosine phosphorylation in oocytes. However, ROS did inhibit the Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3) activity when oocytes mature without EGF. Accumulation of Akt/PKB (protein kinase B), JNK1/2 (jun N-terminal kinases) and Aurora-A in oocytes during maturation was not affected by ROS. However, the phosphorylation of Akt but not JNKs was diminished in ROS-treated oocytes. Thus, PI3 kinase/Akt, JNK1/2 and Aurora-A are likely to be involved in the regulation of bovine oocyte maturation and some of these pathways seem to be independent to MPF activity and meiotic resumption. This complex regulation may explain the partial meiotic arrest of ROS-treated oocytes and the accelerated maturation observed after such treatment.

Phosphorylation of Maskin by Aurora-A Participates in the Control of Sequential Protein Synthesis during Xenopus laevis Oocyte Maturation

At the end of oogenesis, Xenopus laevis stage VI oocytes are arrested at the G2/M transition (prophase) waiting for progesterone to release the block and begin maturation. Progesterone triggers a cascade of phosphorylation events such as a decrease of pK(a) and an increase of maturating-promoting factor activity. Progression through meiosis was controlled by the sequential synthesis of several proteins. For instance, the MAPK kinase kinase c-Mos is the very first protein to be produced, whereas cyclin B1 appears only after meiosis I. After the meiotic cycles, the oocyte arrests at metaphase of meiosis II with an elevated c-Mos kinase activity (cytostatic factor). By using a two-hybrid screen, we have identified maskin, a protein involved in the control of mRNA sequential translation, as a binding partner of Aurora-A, a protein kinase necessary for oocyte maturation. Here we showed that, in vitro, Aurora-A directly binds to maskin and that both proteins can be co-immunoprecipitated from oocyte extracts, suggesting that they do associate in vivo. We also demonstrated that Aurora-A phosphorylates maskin on a Ser residue conserved in transforming acidic coiled coil proteins from Drosophila to human. When the phosphorylation of this Ser was inhibited in vivo by microinjection of synthetic peptides that mimic the maskin-phosphorylated sequence, we observed a premature maturation. Under these conditions, proteins such as cyclin B1 and Cdc6, which are normally detected only in meiosis II, were massively produced in meiosis I before the occurrence of the nuclear envelope breakdown. This result strongly suggests that phosphorylation of maskin by Aurora-A prevents meiosis II proteins from being produced during meiosis I.

Serine-threonine kinases and transcription factors active in signal transduction are detected at high levels of phosphorylation during mitosis in preimplantation embryos and trophoblast stem cells

Serine-threonine kinases and transcription factors play important roles in the G1-S phase progression of the cell cycle. Assays that use quantitative fluorescence by immunocytochemical means, or that measure band strength during Western blot analysis, may have confused interpretations if the intention is to measure G1-S phase commitment of a small subpopulation of phosphorylated proteins, when a larger conversion of the same population of proteins can occur during late G2 and M phases. In mouse trophoblast stem cells (TSC), a human placental cell line (HTR), and/or mouse preimplantation embryos, 8/19 serine-threonine and tyrosine kinases, 3/8 transcription factors, and 8/14 phospho substrate and miscellaneous proteins were phosphorylated at higher levels in M phase than in interphase. Most phosphoproteins appeared to associate with the spindle complex during M phase, but one (p38MAPK) associated with the spindle pole and five (Cdx2, MEK1, 2, p27, and RSK1) associated with the DNA. Phosphorylation was detected throughout apparent metaphase, anaphase and telophase for some proteins, or for only one of these segments for others. The phosphorylation was from 2.1- to 6.2-fold higher during M phase compared with interphase. These data suggest that, when planning and interpreting quantitative data and perturbation experiments, consideration must be given to the role of serine-threonine kinases and transcription factors during decision making in M phase as well as in G1-S phase.

XGef mediates early CPEB phosphorylation during Xenopus oocyte meiotic maturation

Polyadenylation-induced translation is an important regulatory mechanism during metazoan development. During Xenopus oocyte meiotic progression, polyadenylation-induced translation is regulated by CPEB, which is activated by phosphorylation. XGef, a guanine exchange factor, is a CPEB-interacting protein involved in the early steps of progesterone-stimulated oocyte maturation. We find that XGef influences early oocyte maturation by directly influencing CPEB function. XGef and CPEB interact during oogenesis and oocyte maturation and are present in a c-mos messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP). Both proteins also interact directly in vitro. XGef overexpression increases the level of CPEB phosphorylated early during oocyte maturation, and this directly correlates with increased Mos protein accumulation and acceleration of meiotic resumption. To exert this effect, XGef must retain guanine exchange activity and the interaction with CPEB. Overexpression of a guanine exchange deficient version of XGef, which interacts with CPEB, does not enhance early CPEB phosphorylation. Overexpression of a version of XGef that has significantly reduced interaction with CPEB, but retains guanine exchange activity, decreases early CPEB phosphorylation and delays oocyte maturation. Injection of XGef antibodies into oocytes blocks progesterone-induced oocyte maturation and early CPEB phosphorylation. These findings indicate that XGef is involved in early CPEB activation and implicate GTPase signaling in this process.

Protein synthesis and mRNA storage in cattle oocytes maintained under meiotic block by roscovitine inhibition of MPF activity

Roscovitine, a specific inhibitor of MPF kinase activity, has been shown to block efficiently and reversibly the meiotic resumption of oocytes from different species, including cattle. In view to verify that oocytes maintain germinal vesicle like molecular activities under roscovitine treatment, we compared in the present study the M-phase Promoting Factor (MPF) and Mitogen Activated Protein (MAP) kinase activities; protein synthesis and phosphorylation patterns in oocytes and cumulus cells; and CDK1 and Cyclin B messengers storage under control culture and under roscovitine inhibition. We observed that roscovitine induced a full and reversible inhibition of MPF kinase activity and of the activating phosphorylation of both ERK1/2 MAPK. During in vivo maturation, there was a highly significant increase in the relative mRNA level of both cyclin B1 and CDK1 whereas during in vitro culture, the relative amount of CDK1 messenger was reduced. These messengers may be used as markers for the optimization of in vitro maturation treatment. Roscovitine reversibly prevented this drop in relative quantities of CDK1 messenger. Oocytes cultured in the presence of roscovitine maintained a GV like profile of protein synthesis except that two proteins of 48 and 64 kDa specific of matured oocytes also appeared under roscovitine treatment. However, roscovitine did not prevent most of the modifications of protein phosphorylation pattern observed during maturation. In conclusion, results of this study revealed that the use of roscovitine did not prevent all the events related to maturation of bovine oocytes.

Polo-like kinase confers MPF autoamplification competence to growing Xenopus oocytes

During oogenesis, the Xenopus oocyte is blocked in prophase of meiosis I. It becomes competent to resume meiosis in response to progesterone at the end of its growing period (stage VI of oogenesis). Stage IV oocytes contain a store of inactive pre-MPF (Tyr15-phosphorylated Cdc2 bound to cyclin B2); the Cdc25 phosphatase that catalyzes Tyr15 dephosphorylation of Cdc2 is also present. However, the positive feedback loop that allows MPF autoamplification is not functional at this stage of oocyte growth. We report that when cyclin B is overexpressed in stage IV oocytes, MPF autoamplification does not occur and the newly formed cyclin B-Cdc2 complexes are inactivated by Tyr15 phosphorylation, indicating that Myt1 kinase remains active and that Cdc25 is prevented to be activated. Plx1 kinase (or polo-like kinase), which is required for Cdc25 activation and MPF autoamplification in full grown oocytes is not expressed at the protein level in small stage IV oocytes. In order to determine if Plx1 could be the missing regulator that prevents MPF autoamplification, polo kinase was overexpressed in stage IV oocytes. Under these conditions, the MPF-positive feedback loop was restored. Moreover, we show that acquisition of autoamplification competence does not require the Mos/MAPK pathway.

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE)- and CPE-binding protein (CPEB)-independent mechanisms regulate early class maternal mRNA translational activation in Xenopus oocytes

Meiotic cell cycle progression during vertebrate oocyte maturation requires the correct temporal translation of maternal mRNAs encoding key regulatory proteins. The mechanism by which specific mRNAs are temporally activated is unknown, although both cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements (CPE) within the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of mRNAs and the CPE-binding protein (CPEB) have been implicated. We report that in progesterone-stimulated Xenopus oocytes, the early cytoplasmic polyadenylation and translational activation of multiple maternal mRNAs occur in a CPE- and CPEB-independent manner. We demonstrate that polyadenylation response elements, originally identified in the 3'-UTR of the mRNA encoding the Mos proto-oncogene, direct CPE- and CPEB-independent polyadenylation of an early class of Xenopus maternal mRNAs. Our findings refute the hypothesis that CPE sequences alone account for the range of temporal inductions of maternal mRNAs observed during Xenopus oocyte maturation. Rather, our data indicate that the sequential action of distinct 3'-UTR-directed translational control mechanisms coordinates the complex temporal patterns and extent of protein synthesis during vertebrate meiotic cell cycle progression.

Aurora-A is a critical regulator of microtubule assembly and nuclear activity in mouse oocytes, fertilized eggs, and early embryos

Aurora-A is a serine/threonine protein kinase that plays a role in cell-cycle regulation. The activity of this kinase has been shown to be required for regulating multiple stages of mitotic progression in somatic cells. In this study, the changes in aurora-;A expression were revealed in mouse oocytes using Western blotting. The subcellular localization of aurora-A during oocyte meiotic maturation, fertilization, and early cleavages as well as after antibody microinjection or microtubule assembly perturbance was studied with confocal microscopy. The quantity of aurora-A protein was high in the germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (MII) oocytes and remained stable during other meiotic maturation stages. Aurora-A concentrated in the GV before meiosis resumption, in the pronuclei of fertilized eggs, and in the nuclei of early embryo blastomeres. Aurora-A was localized to the spindle poles of the meiotic spindle from the metaphase I (MI) stage to metaphase II stage. During early embryo development, aurora-A was found in association with the mitotic spindle poles. Aurora-A was not found in the spindle region when colchicine or staurosporine was used to inhibit microtubule organization, while it accumulated as several dots in the cytoplasm after taxol treatment. Aurora-A antibody microinjection decreased the rate of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and distorted MI spindle organization. Our results indicate that aurora-A is a critical regulator of cell-cycle progression and microtubule organization during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation, fertilization, and early embryo cleavage.

Cell-cycle control during meiotic maturation

The meiotic cell cycle, which is comprised of two consecutive M-phases, is crucial for the production of haploid germ cells. Although both mitotic and meiotic M-phases share cyclin-B-Cdc2/CDK1 as a key controller, there are meiosis-specific modulations in the regulation of cyclin-B-Cdc2. Recent insights indicate that a common pattern in these modulations can be found by considering the particular activities of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) during meiosis. The G(2)-phase arrest of meiosis I is released via specific, MAPK-independent signalling that leads to cyclin-B-Cdc2 activation; thereafter, however, the meiotic process is under the control of interplay between MAPK and cyclin-B-Cdc2.