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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Evaluation of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Integrity in Mouse Oocytes
Published on: September 13, 2022
Essential CDK1-inhibitory role for separase during meiosis I in vertebrate oocytes
Ingo H Gorr1, Alexandra Reis, Dominik Boos
1Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
Abstract:
Separase not only triggers anaphase of meiosis I by proteolytic cleavage of cohesin on chromosome arms, but in vitro vertebrate separase also acts as a direct inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) on liberation from the inhibitory protein, securin. Blocking separase-Cdk1 complex formation by microinjection of anti-separase antibodies prevents polar-body extrusion in vertebrate oocytes. Importantly, proper meiotic maturation is rescued by chemical inhibition of Cdk1 or expression of Cdk1-binding separase fragments lacking cohesin-cleaving activity.
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