Biliverdin during Xenopus laevis oogenesis and early embryogenesis

Biliverdin is required for Xenopus laevis embryo dorsal axis formation. When the tetrapyrrole is inactivated by phototransforming it with ultraviolet light prior to the first division, the embryo fails to synthesize dorsal mRNAs, such as goosecoid or chordin, yet forms increased amounts of ventral transcripts, such as Vent 1, and, consequently, develops ventralized morphology. Here we describe the metabolism of biliverdin during oogenesis and early embryogenesis. Estrogen induces frog hepatocytes to synthesize biliverdin and vitelogenin. The two molecules form a complex that is secreted into and transported in the plasma to be taken up by the oocyte as it matures through its six stages of oogenesis. In the oocyte, the biliverdin-vitellogenin complex is processed and stored in the yolk platelets. In these organelles, biliverdin is associated entirely with the lipovitellin domain of the processed vitellogenin. Once the egg is fertilized, its biliverdin content decreases over a 5-6 h period to participate in the chemical machinery required for dorsal axis formation. This participation must be initiated during the period encompassing the first embryonic mitosis. The results describe the pathway that generates, transports, and stores biliverdin as part of oogenesis, define the time course for its utilization after fertilization, and link biliverdin to the metabolism of the phosphoglycolipometalloprotein, vitellogenin.