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Clark FE, Greenberg NL, Silva DM, Trimm E, Skinner M, Walton RZ, Rosin LF, Lampson MA, Akera T. An egg sabotaging mechanism drives non-Mendelian transmission in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.22.581453. [PMID: 38903120 PMCID: PMC11188085 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.22.581453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
During meiosis, homologous chromosomes segregate so that alleles are transmitted equally to haploid gametes, following Mendel's Law of Segregation. However, some selfish genetic elements drive in meiosis to distort the transmission ratio and increase their representation in gametes. The established paradigms for drive are fundamentally different for female vs male meiosis. In male meiosis, selfish elements typically kill gametes that do not contain them. In female meiosis, killing is predetermined, and selfish elements bias their segregation to the single surviving gamete (i.e., the egg in animal meiosis). Here we show that a selfish element on mouse chromosome 2, R2d2, drives using a hybrid mechanism in female meiosis, incorporating elements of both male and female drivers. If R2d2 is destined for the polar body, it manipulates segregation to sabotage the egg by causing aneuploidy that is subsequently lethal in the embryo, so that surviving progeny preferentially contain R2d2. In heterozygous females, R2d2 orients randomly on the metaphase spindle but lags during anaphase and preferentially remains in the egg, regardless of its initial orientation. Thus, the egg genotype is either euploid with R2d2 or aneuploid with both homologs of chromosome 2, with only the former generating viable embryos. Consistent with this model, R2d2 heterozygous females produce eggs with increased aneuploidy for chromosome 2, increased embryonic lethality, and increased transmission of R2d2. In contrast to a male meiotic driver, which kills its sister gametes produced as daughter cells in the same meiosis, R2d2 eliminates "cousins" produced from meioses in which it should have been excluded from the egg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances E. Clark
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland 20894, USA
| | - Naomi L. Greenberg
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland 20894, USA
| | - Duilio M.Z.A. Silva
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland 20894, USA
| | - Emily Trimm
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Morgan Skinner
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland 20894, USA
| | - R Zaak Walton
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland 20894, USA
| | - Leah F. Rosin
- Unit on Chromosome Dynamics, Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894 USA
| | - Michael A. Lampson
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Takashi Akera
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland 20894, USA
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2
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Bhatnagar A, Nestler M, Gross P, Kramar M, Leaver M, Voigt A, Grill SW. Axis convergence in C. elegans embryos. Curr Biol 2023; 33:5096-5108.e15. [PMID: 37979577 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Embryos develop in a surrounding that guides key aspects of their development. For example, the anteroposterior (AP) body axis is always aligned with the geometric long axis of the surrounding eggshell in fruit flies and worms. The mechanisms that ensure convergence of the AP axis with the long axis of the eggshell remain unresolved. We investigate axis convergence in early C. elegans development, where the nascent AP axis, when misaligned, actively re-aligns to converge with the long axis of the egg. We identify two physical mechanisms that underlie axis convergence. First, bulk cytoplasmic flows, driven by actomyosin cortical flows, can directly reposition the AP axis. Second, active forces generated within the pseudocleavage furrow, a transient actomyosin structure similar to a contractile ring, can drive a mechanical re-orientation such that it becomes positioned perpendicular to the long axis of the egg. This in turn ensures AP axis convergence. Numerical simulations, together with experiments that either abolish the pseudocleavage furrow or change the shape of the egg, demonstrate that the pseudocleavage-furrow-dependent mechanism is a major driver of axis convergence. We conclude that active force generation within the actomyosin cortical layer drives axis convergence in the early nematode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archit Bhatnagar
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany
| | - Michael Nestler
- Institute of Scientific Computing, Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Zellescher Weg 25, Dresden 01217, Germany
| | - Peter Gross
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany; Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Tatzberg 47/49, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Mirna Kramar
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Tatzberg 47/49, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Mark Leaver
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany
| | - Axel Voigt
- Institute of Scientific Computing, Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Zellescher Weg 25, Dresden 01217, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Arnoldstrase 18, Dresden 01307, Germany; Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany.
| | - Stephan W Grill
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Arnoldstrase 18, Dresden 01307, Germany; Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany.
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3
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Totsuka T, Akera T, Olson MF. MRCK ensures cortex-chromatin "social distancing" to enable egg spindle rotation. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202310009. [PMID: 37843812 PMCID: PMC10579697 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202310009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
During the second meiotic cell division, egg cells discard one set of chromatids to the polar body to produce a large haploid gamete. Meiotic spindle rotation is a critical step to ensure proper polar body extrusion. In this issue, Bourdais et al. (2023. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202211029) have identified MRCKβ as an essential kinase for efficient spindle rotation. MRCK activates cortical myosin II rings overlying the spindle to prevent the notoriously sticky interaction between the cell cortex and chromatin to facilitate spindle rotation. Furthermore, Bourdais et al. found that the same MRCK-myosin II pathway also operates in zygotes to promote parental genome unification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaya Totsuka
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Takashi Akera
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michael F. Olson
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada
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4
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Bourdais A, Dehapiot B, Halet G. MRCK activates mouse oocyte myosin II for spindle rotation and male pronucleus centration. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202211029. [PMID: 37651121 PMCID: PMC10470461 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202211029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Asymmetric meiotic divisions in oocytes rely on spindle positioning in close vicinity to the cortex. In metaphase II mouse oocytes, eccentric spindle positioning triggers cortical polarization, including the build-up of an actin cap surrounded by a ring of activated myosin II. While the role of the actin cap in promoting polar body formation is established, ring myosin II activation mechanisms and functions have remained elusive. Here, we show that ring myosin II activation requires myotonic dystrophy kinase-related Cdc42-binding kinase (MRCK), downstream of polarized Cdc42. MRCK inhibition resulted in spindle rotation defects during anaphase II, precluding polar body extrusion. Remarkably, disengagement of segregated chromatids from the anaphase spindle could rescue rotation. We further show that the MRCK/myosin II pathway is activated in the fertilization cone and is required for male pronucleus migration toward the center of the zygote. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanism of myosin II activation in oocytes and its role in orchestrating asymmetric division and pronucleus centration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Bourdais
- University of Rennes, CNRS - UMR 6290, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Benoit Dehapiot
- University of Rennes, CNRS - UMR 6290, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Guillaume Halet
- University of Rennes, CNRS - UMR 6290, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, Rennes, France
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5
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Pelzer D, de Plater L, Bradbury P, Eichmuller A, Bourdais A, Halet G, Maître J. Cell fragmentation in mouse preimplantation embryos induced by ectopic activation of the polar body extrusion pathway. EMBO J 2023; 42:e114415. [PMID: 37427462 PMCID: PMC10476277 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023114415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell fragmentation is commonly observed in human preimplantation embryos and is associated with poor prognosis during assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures. However, the mechanisms leading to cell fragmentation remain largely unknown. Here, light sheet microscopy imaging of mouse embryos reveals that inefficient chromosome separation due to spindle defects, caused by dysfunctional molecular motors Myo1c or dynein, leads to fragmentation during mitosis. Extended exposure of the cell cortex to chromosomes locally triggers actomyosin contractility and pinches off cell fragments. This process is reminiscent of meiosis, during which small GTPase-mediated signals from chromosomes coordinate polar body extrusion (PBE) by actomyosin contraction. By interfering with the signals driving PBE, we find that this meiotic signaling pathway remains active during cleavage stages and is both required and sufficient to trigger fragmentation. Together, we find that fragmentation happens in mitosis after ectopic activation of actomyosin contractility by signals emanating from DNA, similar to those observed during meiosis. Our study uncovers the mechanisms underlying fragmentation in preimplantation embryos and, more generally, offers insight into the regulation of mitosis during the maternal-zygotic transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Pelzer
- Institut CuriePSL Research University, CNRS UMR 3215, INSERM U934ParisFrance
| | - Ludmilla de Plater
- Institut CuriePSL Research University, CNRS UMR 3215, INSERM U934ParisFrance
| | - Peta Bradbury
- Institut CuriePSL Research University, CNRS UMR 3215, INSERM U934ParisFrance
| | - Adrien Eichmuller
- Institut CuriePSL Research University, CNRS UMR 3215, INSERM U934ParisFrance
| | - Anne Bourdais
- Institut de Génétique et Développement de RennesUniversité de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290RennesFrance
| | - Guillaume Halet
- Institut de Génétique et Développement de RennesUniversité de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290RennesFrance
| | - Jean‐Léon Maître
- Institut CuriePSL Research University, CNRS UMR 3215, INSERM U934ParisFrance
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6
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Li Y, Sun SX. The influence of polarized membrane ion carriers and extracellular electrical/pH gradients on cell ionic homeostasis and locomotion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.26.550658. [PMID: 37546972 PMCID: PMC10402024 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.26.550658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Anisotropic environmental signals or polarized membrane ion/solute carriers can generate spatially-varying intracellular gradients, leading to polarized cell dynamics. For example, directional migration of neutrophils, galvanotaxis of glioblastoma, and water flux in kidney cells, all result from the polarized distribution of membrane ion carriers and other intracellular components. The underlying physical mechanisms behind how polarized ion carriers interact with environmental signals are not well studied. Here, we use a physiologically-relevant, physics-based mathematical model to reveal how ion carriers generate intracellular ionic and voltage gradients. The model is able to discern the contribution of individual ion carriers to the intracellular pH gradient, electric potential, and water flux. We discover that an extracellular pH gradient leads to an intracellular pH gradient via chloride-bicarbonate exchangers, whereas an extracellular electric field leads to an intracellular electric potential gradient via passive potassium channels. In addition, the mechanical-biochemical coupling can modulate actin distribution and flow, and create biphasic dependence of the cell speed on water flux. Moreover, we find that F-actin interaction with NHE alone can generate cell movement, even when other ion carriers are not polarized. Taken together, the model shows the importance of cell ion dynamics in modulating cell migration and cytoskeletal dynamics.
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7
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Bypassing Mendel's First Law: Transmission Ratio Distortion in Mammals. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021600. [PMID: 36675116 PMCID: PMC9863905 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Mendel's law of segregation states that the two alleles at a diploid locus should be transmitted equally to the progeny. A genetic segregation distortion, also referred to as transmission ratio distortion (TRD), is a statistically significant deviation from this rule. TRD has been observed in several mammal species and may be due to different biological mechanisms occurring at diverse time points ranging from gamete formation to lethality at post-natal stages. In this review, we describe examples of TRD and their possible mechanisms in mammals based on current knowledge. We first focus on the differences between TRD in male and female gametogenesis in the house mouse, in which some of the most well studied TRD systems have been characterized. We then describe known TRD in other mammals, with a special focus on the farmed species and in the peculiar common shrew species. Finally, we discuss TRD in human diseases. Thus far, to our knowledge, this is the first time that such description is proposed. This review will help better comprehend the processes involved in TRD. A better understanding of these molecular mechanisms will imply a better comprehension of their impact on fertility and on genome evolution. In turn, this should allow for better genetic counseling and lead to better care for human families.
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8
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Liu X, Li P, Yan K, Du Y, Peng K, Li M, Cui K, Zhang H, Yang X, Lu S, Liang X. Resveratrol ameliorates the defects of meiotic maturation in lipopolysaccharide exposed porcine oocytes. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 115:85-93. [PMID: 36549457 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a significant virulence factor of gram-negative bacteria, adversely affects female reproduction, especially the maturation and early embryonic development of oocytes, through inducing of inflammatory and oxidative stress-associated toxic responses. Resveratrol (Res), a potent antioxidant, exhibits many beneficial effects on the maturation and developmental competence of oocytes. However, it is unclear whether Res can restore LPS-induced defects in the maturation of oocytes during meiosis. In this study, we used porcine oocytes to explore the protective effects of Res and its underlying mechanism against the toxic impacts of LPS exposure on meiotic maturation and developmental competence of oocytes during meiosis. The oocytes were randomly assigned to a control, LPS-exposed or Res-supplemented group. Nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation was assessed after 26 h (MI) or 44 h (MII) of in vitro maturation (IVM). Our results showed that 10 µM Res significantly improved the rates of oocyte maturation and blastocyst formation after exposure to 15 µg/mL LPS. In addition, Res preserved the normal spindle/chromosome structure and maintained acetylated tubulin levels, actin polymerization and cortical granules (CGs) distribution. Additionally, Res protected mitochondrial content and function, scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reduced DNA damage and apoptosis in LPS-exposed oocytes. Furthermore, inhibition of SIRT1 by its specific inhibitor EX527 suppressed the recovery of ROS levels, mitochondrial content, and spindle/chromosome structure by Res supplementation. In summary, this study shows that Res can alleviate the impacts of LPS-induced toxicity on meiosis in porcine oocytes by upregulating SIRT1, which ameliorates oxidative stress and increasing mitochondrial content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Liu
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Pan Li
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Ke Yan
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Ya Du
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Ke Peng
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Mengqi Li
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Kexin Cui
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Hengye Zhang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Xiaogan Yang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Shengsheng Lu
- Agri-animal Industrial Development Institute, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China.
| | - Xingwei Liang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China.
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9
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Chan CJ, Hirashima T. Tissue hydraulics in reproduction. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 131:124-133. [PMID: 35606275 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The development of functional eggs and sperm are critical processes in mammalian development as they ensure successful reproduction and species propagation. While past studies have identified important genes that regulate these processes, the roles of luminal flow and fluid stress in reproductive biology remain less well understood. Here, we discuss recent evidence that support the diverse functions of luminal fluid in oogenesis, spermatogenesis and embryogenesis. We also review emerging techniques that allow for precise quantification and perturbation of tissue hydraulics in female and male reproductive systems, and propose new questions and approaches in this field. We hope this review will provide a useful resource to inspire future research in tissue hydraulics in reproductive biology and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chii Jou Chan
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Tsuyoshi Hirashima
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; The Hakubi Center/Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency, PRESTO, Kawaguchi, Japan.
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10
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Shi F, Xu Y, Zhang S, Fu Z, Yu Q, Zhang S, Sun M, Zhao X, Feng X. Decabromodiphenyl ethane affects embryonic development by interfering with nuclear F-actin in zygotes and leads to cognitive and social disorders in offspring mice. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22445. [PMID: 35816173 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202200586r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) is a novel retardant. DBDPE is used in various flammable consumer products such as electronics, building materials, textiles, and children's toys. The presence of DBDPE in humans makes it extremely urgent to assess the health effects of DBDPE exposure. Here, we used female mice as an animal model to investigate the effects of DBDPE on embryonic development and offspring health. The results showed that 50 μg/kg bw/day of DBDPE exposure did not affect spindle rotation in oocytes after fertilization, but led to a decrease of pronuclei (PN) in zygotes. Further investigation found that DBDPE interferes with the self-assembly of F-actin in PN, resulting in PN reduction, DNA damage, and reduced expression of zygotic genome activating genes, and finally leading to abnormal embryonic development. More importantly, we found that maternal DBDPE exposure did not affect the growth and development of the first generation of offspring (F1) mice, but resulted in behavioral defects in F1 mice. Female F1 mice from DBDPE-exposed mothers exhibited increased motor activity and deficits in social behavior. Both female and male F1 mice from DBDPE-exposed mothers exhibited cognitive memory impairment. These results suggest that DBDPE has developmental toxicity on embryos and has a cross-generational interference effect. It is suggested that people should pay attention to the reproductive toxicity of DBDPE. In addition, it also provides a reference for studying the origin of neurological diseases and indicates that adult diseases caused by environmental pollutants may have begun in the embryonic stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Shi
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yixin Xu
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuhui Zhang
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhenhua Fu
- The Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information Systems, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qian Yu
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shaozhi Zhang
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Mingzhu Sun
- The Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information Systems, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- The Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information Systems, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xizeng Feng
- College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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11
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Chromosome Segregation in the Oocyte: What Goes Wrong during Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052880. [PMID: 35270022 PMCID: PMC8911062 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human female fertility and reproductive lifespan decrease significantly with age, resulting in an extended post-reproductive period. The central dogma in human female reproduction contains two important aspects. One is the pool of oocytes in the human ovary (the ovarian reserve; approximately 106 at birth), which diminishes throughout life until menopause around the age of 50 (approximately 103 oocytes) in women. The second is the quality of oocytes, including the correctness of meiotic divisions, among other factors. Notably, the increased rate of sub- and infertility, aneuploidy, miscarriages, and birth defects are associated with advanced maternal age, especially in women above 35 years of age. This postponement is also relevant for human evolution; decades ago, the female aging-related fertility drop was not as important as it is today because women were having their children at a younger age. Spindle assembly is crucial for chromosome segregation during each cell division and oocyte maturation, making it an important event for euploidy. Consequently, aberrations in this segregation process, especially during the first meiotic division in human eggs, can lead to implantation failure or spontaneous abortion. Today, human reproductive medicine is also facing a high prevalence of aneuploidy, even in young females. However, the shift in the reproductive phase of humans and the strong increase in errors make the problem much more dramatic at later stages of the female reproductive phase. Aneuploidy in human eggs could be the result of the non-disjunction of entire chromosomes or sister chromatids during oocyte meiosis, but partial or segmental aneuploidies are also relevant. In this review, we intend to describe the relevance of the spindle apparatus during oocyte maturation for proper chromosome segregation in the context of maternal aging and the female reproductive lifespan.
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12
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Yamazaki W, Tan SL, Taketo T. Role of the X and Y Chromosomes in the Female Germ Cell Line Development in the Mouse (Mus musculus). Sex Dev 2022:1-10. [PMID: 35235936 DOI: 10.1159/000521151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In eutherian mammals, the sex chromosome complement, XX and XY, determines sexual differentiation of gonadal primordia into testes and ovaries, which in turn direct differentiation of germ cells into haploid sperm and oocytes, respectively. When gonadal sex is reversed, however, the germ cell sex becomes discordant with the chromosomal sex. XY females in humans are infertile, while XY females in the mouse (Mus musculus) are subfertile or infertile dependent on the cause of sex reversal and the genetic background. This article reviews publications to understand how the sex chromosome complement affects the fertility of XY oocytes by comparing with XX and monosomy X (XO) oocytes. SUMMARY The results highlight 2 folds disadvantage of XY oocytes over XX oocytes: (1) the X and Y chromosomes fail to pair during the meiotic prophase I, resulting in sex chromosome aneuploidy at the first meiotic division and (2) expression of the Y-linked genes during oocyte growth affects the transcriptome landscape and renders the ooplasmic component incompetent for embryonic development. Key Message: The XX chromosome complement gives the oocyte the highest competence for embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Yamazaki
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Seang Lin Tan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,OriginElle Fertility Clinic and Women's Health Centre, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Teruko Taketo
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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13
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Contribution of cytoplasm viscoelastic properties to mitotic spindle positioning. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2115593119. [PMID: 35169074 PMCID: PMC8872784 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115593119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of mitotic spindle positioning is a key process for tissue architecture, embryo development, and stem cells. To date, most models have assumed that spindles are positioned by forces exerted by polar cytoskeleton networks, like microtubule asters or actomyosin bundles. Here, using in situ magnetic tweezers to apply calibrated forces and torques to mitotic spindles in live dividing sea urchin cells, we found that the viscoelastic properties of the cytoplasm medium in which spindles are embedded can hold spindles in place and move them back if their original position is perturbed. These viscoelastic forces are large and may significantly participate in the force balance that position and orient mitotic spindles in many cell types. Cells are filled with macromolecules and polymer networks that set scale-dependent viscous and elastic properties to the cytoplasm. Although the role of these parameters in molecular diffusion, reaction kinetics, and cellular biochemistry is being increasingly recognized, their contributions to the motion and positioning of larger organelles, such as mitotic spindles for cell division, remain unknown. Here, using magnetic tweezers to displace and rotate mitotic spindles in living embryos, we uncovered that the cytoplasm can impart viscoelastic reactive forces that move spindles, or passive objects with similar size, back to their original positions. These forces are independent of cytoskeletal force generators yet reach hundreds of piconewtons and scale with cytoplasm crowding. Spindle motion shears and fluidizes the cytoplasm, dissipating elastic energy and limiting spindle recoils with functional implications for asymmetric and oriented divisions. These findings suggest that bulk cytoplasm material properties may constitute important control elements for the regulation of division positioning and cellular organization.
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14
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Prusicki MA, Balboni M, Sofroni K, Hamamura Y, Schnittger A. Caught in the Act: Live-Cell Imaging of Plant Meiosis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:718346. [PMID: 34992616 PMCID: PMC8724559 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.718346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Live-cell imaging is a powerful method to obtain insights into cellular processes, particularly with respect to their dynamics. This is especially true for meiosis, where chromosomes and other cellular components such as the cytoskeleton follow an elaborate choreography over a relatively short period of time. Making these dynamics visible expands understanding of the regulation of meiosis and its underlying molecular forces. However, the analysis of meiosis by live-cell imaging is challenging; specifically in plants, a temporally resolved understanding of chromosome segregation and recombination events is lacking. Recent advances in live-cell imaging now allow the analysis of meiotic events in plants in real time. These new microscopy methods rely on the generation of reporter lines for meiotic regulators and on the establishment of ex vivo culture and imaging conditions, which stabilize the specimen and keep it alive for several hours or even days. In this review, we combine an overview of the technical aspects of live-cell imaging in plants with a summary of outstanding questions that can now be addressed to promote live-cell imaging in Arabidopsis and other plant species and stimulate ideas on the topics that can be addressed in the context of plant meiotic recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Arp Schnittger
- Department of Developmental Biology, Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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15
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Verlhac MH. Preventing aneuploidy: The groom must wait until the bride is ready. J Cell Biol 2021; 220:e202108030. [PMID: 34505874 PMCID: PMC8438638 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202108030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertilization often triggers the final step of haploidization of the female gamete genome. In this issue, Mori et al. (2021. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202012001) identify two successive actin-dependent mechanisms that delay fusion of maternal and paternal chromosomes, preventing inadvertent elimination of paternal chromosomes together with maternal ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Hélène Verlhac
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, UMR7241/U1050, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, France
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16
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Dehapiot B, Clément R, Bourdais A, Carrière V, Huet S, Halet G. RhoA- and Cdc42-induced antagonistic forces underlie symmetry breaking and spindle rotation in mouse oocytes. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001376. [PMID: 34491981 PMCID: PMC8448345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian oocyte meiotic divisions are highly asymmetric and produce a large haploid gamete and 2 small polar bodies. This relies on the ability of the cell to break symmetry and position its spindle close to the cortex before anaphase occurs. In metaphase II–arrested mouse oocytes, the spindle is actively maintained close and parallel to the cortex, until fertilization triggers sister chromatid segregation and the rotation of the spindle. The latter must indeed reorient perpendicular to the cortex to enable cytokinesis ring closure at the base of the polar body. However, the mechanisms underlying symmetry breaking and spindle rotation have remained elusive. In this study, we show that spindle rotation results from 2 antagonistic forces. First, an inward contraction of the cytokinesis furrow dependent on RhoA signaling, and second, an outward attraction exerted on both sets of chromatids by a Ran/Cdc42-dependent polarization of the actomyosin cortex. By combining live segmentation and tracking with numerical modeling, we demonstrate that this configuration becomes unstable as the ingression progresses. This leads to spontaneous symmetry breaking, which implies that neither the rotation direction nor the set of chromatids that eventually gets discarded are biologically predetermined. Mammalian oocyte meiotic divisions are highly asymmetric and produce a large haploid gamete and two small polar bodies, but the mechanisms underlying the required symmetry breaking and spindle rotation have remained elusive. This study shows that spindle rotation in activated mouse oocytes relies on spontaneous symmetry breaking resulting from an unstable configuration generated by cleavage furrow ingression and cortical chromosome attraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Dehapiot
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM-UMR7288, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR—UMR 6290, Rennes, France
- * E-mail: (BD); (GH)
| | - Raphaël Clément
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM-UMR7288, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | | | | | | | - Guillaume Halet
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR—UMR 6290, Rennes, France
- * E-mail: (BD); (GH)
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17
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Israel S, Drexler HCA, Fuellen G, Boiani M. The COP9 signalosome subunit 3 is necessary for early embryo survival by way of a stable protein deposit in mouse oocytes. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 27:gaab048. [PMID: 34264319 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigations of genes required in early mammalian development are complicated by protein deposits of maternal products, which continue to operate after the gene locus has been disrupted. This leads to delayed phenotypic manifestations and underestimation of the number of genes known to be needed during the embryonic phase of cellular totipotency. Here we expose a critical role of the gene Cops3 by showing that it protects genome integrity during the 2-cell stage of mouse development, in contrast to the previous functional assignment at postimplantation. This new role is mediated by a substantial deposit of protein (94th percentile of the proteome), divided between an exceptionally stable cortical rim, which is prevalent in oocytes, and an ancillary deposit in the embryonic nuclei. Since protein abundance and stability defeat prospects of DNA- or RNA-based gene inactivation in oocytes, we harnessed a classical method next to an emerging method for protein inactivation: antigen masking (for functional inhibition) versus TRIM21-mediated proteasomal degradation, also known as 'Trim away' (for physical removal). Both resulted in 2-cell embryo lethality, unlike the embryos receiving anti-green fluorescent protein. Comparisons between COPS3 protein-targeted and non-targeted embryos revealed large-scale transcriptome differences, which were most evident for genes associated with biological functions critical for RNA metabolism and for the preservation of genome integrity. The gene expression abnormalities associated with COPS3 inactivation were confirmed in situ by the occurrence of DNA endoreduplication and DNA strand breaks in 2-cell embryos. These results recruit Cops3 to the small family of genes that are necessary for early embryo survival. Overall, assigning genes with roles in embryogenesis may be less safe than assumed, if the protein products of these genes accumulate in oocytes: the inactivation of a gene at the protein level can expose an earlier phenotype than that identified by genetic techniques such as conventional gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Israel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany
| | - Hannes C A Drexler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany
| | - Georg Fuellen
- Rostock University Medical Center, Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Aging Research (IBIMA), Rostock, Germany
| | - Michele Boiani
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany
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18
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Abbassi L, El-Hayek S, Carvalho KF, Wang W, Yang Q, Granados-Aparici S, Mondadori R, Bordignon V, Clarke HJ. Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling uncouples germ cells from the somatic follicular compartment at ovulation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1438. [PMID: 33664246 PMCID: PMC7933413 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21644-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Germ cells are physically coupled to somatic support cells of the gonad during differentiation, but this coupling must be disrupted when they are mature, freeing them to participate in fertilization. In mammalian females, coupling occurs via specialized filopodia that project from the ovarian follicular granulosa cells to the oocyte. Here, we show that signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the granulosa, which becomes activated at ovulation, uncouples the germ and somatic cells by triggering a massive and temporally synchronized retraction of the filopodia. Although EGFR signaling triggers meiotic maturation of the oocyte, filopodial retraction is independent of the germ cell state, being regulated solely within the somatic compartment, where it requires ERK-dependent calpain-mediated loss of filopodia-oocyte adhesion followed by Arp2/3-mediated filopodial shortening. By uncovering the mechanism regulating germ-soma uncoupling at ovulation, our results open a path to improving oocyte quality in human and animal reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laleh Abbassi
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stephany El-Hayek
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Centre for Arab Genomic Studies, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Karen Freire Carvalho
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Wusu Wang
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Qin Yang
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Rafael Mondadori
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vilceu Bordignon
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Hugh J Clarke
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
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Mechanical regulation of cell size, fate, and behavior during asymmetric cell division. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2020; 67:9-16. [PMID: 32768924 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Asymmetric cell division (ACD) is an evolutionary conserved mechanism used by prokaryotes and eukaryotes alike to generate cell diversity. ACD can be manifested in biased segregation of macromolecules or differential partitioning of cell organelles. Cells are also constantly subject to extrinsic or intrinsic mechanical forces, influencing cell behavior and fate. During ACD, cell intrinsic forces generated through the spatiotemporal regulation of the actomyosin cytoskeleton can influence sibling cell size. External mechanical stresses are further translated by transcriptional coactivators or mechanically gated ion channels. Here, we will discuss recent literature, exploring how mechanical cues influence various aspects of ACD and stem cell behavior, and how these mechanical cues contribute to cell fate decisions.
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