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Updated: Sep 27, 2025
09:26
Preparation of Meiotic Chromosome Spreads from Mouse Oocytes for Assessment of Synapsis and Recombination
Published on: July 18, 2025
453
MAPRE2 regulates the first meiotic progression in mouse oocytes
Yuan-Yuan Li1, Wen-Long Lei1, Chang-Fa Zhang2
1State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
Experimental Cell Research
|April 10, 2022
Summary
Microtubule-associated RP/EB family member 2 (MAPRE2) is crucial for mouse oocyte maturation. Its depletion disrupts microtubule stability and chromosome alignment, leading to meiotic failure.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Microtubule plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs) regulate microtubule dynamics and cellular processes.
- MAPRE2 (EB2) is a core +TIP component, but its role in mammalian oocyte meiosis is uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and function of MAPRE2 during mouse oocyte maturation.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of MAPRE2 expression across oocyte maturation stages.
- Immunofluorescence microscopy to determine MAPRE2 localization.
- RNA interference (siRNA) to knockdown Mapre2 expression.
- Assessment of microtubule stability, kinetochore-microtubule attachments, chromosome alignment, spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) activation, and cyclin B1 degradation.
Main Results:
- MAPRE2 is expressed throughout mouse oocyte maturation (GV to MII stages).
- MAPRE2 localizes to the cytoplasm in GV oocytes and along the spindle in MI and MII oocytes.
- Mapre2 knockdown severely impairs microtubule stability, kinetochore-microtubule attachment, and chromosome alignment.
- MAPRE2 depletion activates the SAC and inhibits cyclin B1 degradation, causing meiotic arrest and failure of chromosome segregation and polar body extrusion.
Conclusions:
- MAPRE2 is essential for proper microtubule organization and function during mouse oocyte meiosis.
- MAPRE2 plays a critical role in ensuring accurate chromosome segregation and successful completion of oocyte maturation.
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