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Molecular Mechanisms of Asymmetric Division in Oocytes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 June 2013

Shao-Chen Sun  and
Nam-Hyung Kim
Shao-Chen Sun*
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Nam-Hyung Kim*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
**Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

In contrast to symmetric division in mitosis, mammalian oocyte maturation is characterized by asymmetric cell division that produces a large egg and a small polar body. The asymmetry results from oocyte polarization, which includes spindle positioning, migration, and cortical reorganization, and this process is critical for fertilization and the retention of maternal components for early embryo development. Although actin dynamics are involved in this process, the molecular mechanism underlying this remained unclear until the use of confocal microscopy and live cell imaging became widespread in recent years. Information obtained through a PubMed database search of all articles published in English between 2000 and 2012 that included the phrases “oocyte, actin, spindle migration,” “oocyte, actin, polar body,” or “oocyte, actin, asymmetric division” was reviewed. The actin nucleation factor actin-related protein 2/3 complex and its nucleation-promoting factors, formins and Spire, and regulators such as small GTPases, partitioning-defective/protein kinase C, Fyn, microRNAs, cis-Golgi apparatus components, myosin/myosin light-chain kinase, spindle stability regulators, and spindle assembly checkpoint regulators, play critical roles in asymmetric cell division in oocytes. This review summarizes recent findings on these actin-related regulators in mammalian oocyte asymmetric division and outlines a complete signaling pathway.

Keywords

oocytespindle migrationasymmetric divisionpolar body extrusionactin nucleationsmall GTPase
Type
Review Article
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , August 2013 , pp. 883 - 897
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2013 

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