A tudor domain protein SPINDLIN1 interacts with the mRNA-binding protein SERBP1 and is involved in mouse oocyte

Ting Gang Chew1, Anne Peaston, Ai Khim Lim

  • 1Mammalian Development Laboratory, Institute of Medical Biology, A-STAR, Singapore, Singapore. tinggang80@gmail.com

Plos One
|July 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

SPINDLIN1 (SPIN1) regulates maternal transcripts post-transcriptionally, controlling meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes. Loss of SPIN1 impairs meiosis resumption by affecting mRNA stability and translation.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Molecular and cell biology
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Mammalian oocytes arrest at prophase I of meiosis, resuming only before ovulation.
  • Meiotic resumption relies on post-transcriptional regulation of maternal transcripts.
  • SPINDLIN1 (SPIN1) is a maternal protein with Tudor-like domains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of SPINDLIN1 (SPIN1) in regulating maternal transcripts.
  • To determine SPIN1's involvement in controlling meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes.

Main Methods:

  • Studied mouse oocytes deficient for Spin1.
  • Analyzed folliculogenesis and meiotic resumption.
  • Investigated SPIN1's interaction with SERBP1 and its effect on mRNA stability and translation.

Main Results:

  • Spin1-deficient mouse oocytes showed normal folliculogenesis but defective meiotic resumption.
  • SPIN1 interacts with SERBP1 via its Tudor-like domain, forming a ribonucleoprotein complex.
  • Reduced mRNA levels of PDE3A (cAMP-degrading enzyme) were observed in Spin1 mutant oocytes.

Conclusions:

  • SPINDLIN1 (SPIN1) plays a crucial role in post-transcriptional regulation of maternal transcripts.
  • SPIN1 is essential for controlling meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes.
  • Dysregulation of maternal transcripts, including PDE3A, by SPIN1 may contribute to meiotic arrest.

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