Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 3, 2025
08:00
Defining the Program of Maternal mRNA Translation during In vitro Maturation using a Single Oocyte Reporter Assay
Published on: June 16, 2021
4.5K
Maternal effect factors that contribute to oocytes developmental competence: an update
Federica Innocenti1, Giulia Fiorentino2,3, Danilo Cimadomo4
1GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. de Notaris, 2b, 00197, Rome, Italy.
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
|February 15, 2022
Summary
Maternal-effect genes (MEGs) are crucial for oocyte competence, ensuring fertilization and early embryo development. Understanding MEGs offers potential for treating female infertility.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Oocyte developmental competence is essential for successful reproduction, enabling fertilization and blastocyst development.
- Maternally inherited factors, including maternal-effect gene (MEG) products, govern critical events before embryonic genome activation.
- These factors are vital from oocyte maturation through preimplantation development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the critical roles of maternal-effect genes (MEGs) in oocyte maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation development.
- To highlight the direct and indirect effects of MEGs on acquiring and maintaining oocyte competence.
- To stimulate research with potential clinical applications for female infertility.
Main Methods:
- This mini-review synthesizes existing research on maternal-effect genes.
- It focuses on the functions of MEG products during key reproductive stages.
- The review examines the impact of MEGs on oocyte competence.
Main Results:
- MEG products are essential for epigenetic reprogramming, cell division, and DNA damage response in the oocyte.
- These factors are stored in the oocyte and function from folliculogenesis to preimplantation development.
- MEGs directly and indirectly influence the acquisition and maintenance of oocyte developmental competence.
Conclusions:
- Maternal-effect genes play indispensable roles throughout oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic development.
- Dysregulation of MEGs can impair oocyte competence and contribute to female infertility.
- Further research into MEGs holds promise for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for infertility.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Oogenesis
64.7K
In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
64.7K
03:09Meiosis I
42.0K
Meiosis is the division of a diploid cell into haploid cells forming sperm and eggs in animals through differentiation. Meiosis I is the first stage of meiosis, where the genetic recombination of homologous chromosomes and the reduction of the ploidy level by half occurs.
Prophase I is the most extended and complex step of meiosis I characterized by synapsis, chromosome pairing, and recombination of the homologous chromosomes. This process is facilitated by a proteinaceous structure called the...
Prophase I is the most extended and complex step of meiosis I characterized by synapsis, chromosome pairing, and recombination of the homologous chromosomes. This process is facilitated by a proteinaceous structure called the...
42.0K
01:21Nondisjunction
4.2K
Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers. Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis. Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold...
4.2K
01:20Folliculogenesis
1.2K
Folliculogenesis is the development of ovarian follicles, the specialized structures within the ovarian cortex where oogenesis, or egg development, occurs. This process is essential for female reproductive health and begins during fetal development when primordial follicles are formed. Each primordial follicle comprises a primary oocyte in the center, surrounded by a single layer of squamous pre-granulosa cells. These follicles remain dormant in late prophase I of meiosis until triggered by...
1.2K
02:02Meiosis II
47.1K
Meiosis II entails cell division and segregation of the sister chromatids, resulting in the production of four unique haploid gametes. The steps for meiosis II are similar to mitosis, except that meiosis II occurs in haploid cells, whereas mitosis occurs in diploid cells.
The timing and cell division patterns of meiosis differ between males and females. In male meiosis, the centrosomes are part of the formation of the meiotic spindle. However, in oocytes, including that of humans, Drosophila,...
The timing and cell division patterns of meiosis differ between males and females. In male meiosis, the centrosomes are part of the formation of the meiotic spindle. However, in oocytes, including that of humans, Drosophila,...
47.1K
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
6.8K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
6.8K