Translation of incenp During Oocyte Maturation Is Required for Embryonic Development in Xenopus laevis

• Published in: Biology of reproduction Vol. 86; no. 5; pp. 161, 1 - 161
• Main Authors: LEBLOND, Geoffrey G, SARAZIN, Heather, RUIZHEN LI, SUZUKI, Makoto, UENO, Naoto, JOHNE LIU, X
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI Society for the Study of Reproduction 01-05-2012
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone - biosynthesis; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone - genetics; Embryonic Development - genetics; Embryonic Development - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques; Meiosis - physiology; Mitosis - physiology; Parthenogenesis - genetics; Parthenogenesis - physiology; Polar Bodies - physiology; Protein Biosynthesis; Vertebrates: reproduction; Xenopus laevis - embryology; Xenopus laevis - genetics; Xenopus laevis - metabolism; Xenopus Proteins - biosynthesis; Xenopus Proteins - genetics; incenp; Embryonic development; Embryo; Xenopus laevis; Amphibia; Salientia; Vertebrata; Reproduction; host-transfer; Transfer; translation; cytoplasmic maturation; Oocyte maturation; embryo cleavage
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.111.097972

The chromosome passenger complex (CPC) consists of Aurora-B kinase and several other subunits. One of these, incenp, binds Aurora-B and regulates its kinase activity. During Xenopus oocyte maturation, incenp accumulates through translation, contributing to aurora-b activation. A previous study has demonstrated that inhibition of incenp translation during oocyte maturation diminishes aurora-b activation but does not interfere with oocyte maturation, characterized by normal maturation-specific cyclin-b phosphorylation, degradation, and resynthesis. Here we have extended these findings, showing that inhibition of incenp translation during oocyte maturation did not interfere with meiosis I or II, as indicated by the normal emission of the first polar body and metaphase II arrest, followed by the successful emission of the second polar body upon parthenogenetic egg activation. Most importantly, however, when transferred to host frogs and subsequently ovulated, the incenp-deficient eggs were fertilized but failed to undergo mitotic cleavage. Thus, translation of incenp during oocyte maturation appears to be part of oocyte cytoplasmic maturation, preparing the egg for the rapid mitosis following fertilization.