Inhibition of S6 kinase by rapamycin blocks maturation of Rana dybowskii oocytes

Studies were carried out to define the hormone-induced signal transduction pathway during maturation of Rana dybowskii oocytes. Rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of S6 kinase, blocked progesterone-induced oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in a dose-dependent manner indicating that S6 kinase is required for meiotic maturation of Rana oocytes. Addition of rapamycin within 3 h, but not 6 h, of progesterone treatment inhibited GVBD. In contrast, cycloheximide, a general protein synthesis inhibitor, blocked GVBD even when added 9 h after progesterone addition. A twofold increase in S6 kinase activity occurred within 1 h of progesterone stimulation and rapamycin inhibited this activity. Rapamycin also suppressed, in a dose-dependent manner, progesterone-induced protein synthesis during the first 12 h of culture but less effectively later. Histone H1 kinase activity (maturation-promoting factor, MPF) was observed in oocyte extracts at two different times (between 6 and 9 h and at 24 h) following progesterone stimulation. Rapamycin blocked H1 kinase activity between 6 and 9 h of culture but not that observed at 24 h. In contrast, cycloheximide suppressed progesterone-induced H1 kinase activity as well as protein synthesis throughout the course of incubation. Such results indicate that rapamycin and cycloheximide have common and unique effects on oocyte maturation and suggest that progesterone-induced S6 kinase activity is closely associated with induction of protein synthesis and activation of MPF during oocyte maturation. Results in Rana contrast with those obtained in Xenopus where rapamycin inhibited S6 kinase but failed to inhibit GVBD or protein synthesis. Differences in the response of Rana and Xenopus oocytes to rapamycin are discussed in relation to seasonal, biochemical, and species variations.