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CENP-W regulates kinetochore-microtubule attachment and meiotic progression of mouse oocytes

Yue Wang1, Li-Hua Fan1, Wei Yue1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|May 25, 2020
PubMed

Insights

CENP-W is crucial for mouse oocyte maturation. Its absence causes chromosome misalignment and meiotic arrest, highlighting its role in kinetochore function and female fertility.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Cell biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Oocyte meiotic maturation failure and incorrect chromosome segregation contribute to female infertility.
  • Kinetochore proteins are essential for accurate chromosome segregation during meiosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of CENP-W, a novel kinetochore protein, in mouse oocyte meiotic maturation.
  • To determine the impact of CENP-W deficiency on chromosome alignment and meiotic progression.

Main Methods:

  • Expression analysis of CENP-W in mouse oocytes (germinal vesicle to metaphase II stages).
  • Confocal microscopy for CENP-W localization.
  • In vitro knockdown of CENP-W using siRNA.
  • Assessment of kinetochore-microtubule attachment, spindle formation, chromosome alignment, and spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) activation.

Main Results:

  • CENP-W is expressed in mouse oocytes and localizes to kinetochores during maturation.
  • CENP-W knockdown leads to kinetochore-microtubule detachment, defective spindles, and chromosome misalignment.
  • CENP-W deficiency causes metaphase I arrest and failure of first polar body extrusion.
  • Spindle assembly checkpoint is activated in CENP-W knockdown oocytes.

Conclusions:

  • CENP-W functions as a kinetochore protein essential for proper kinetochore-microtubule attachment.
  • CENP-W plays a critical role in mediating the progression of oocyte meiotic maturation.
  • Dysfunctional CENP-W may contribute to female infertility due to meiotic errors.
Keywords:
CENP-WKinetochore-microtubule attachmentMeiosisOocyte

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