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Updated: Aug 27, 2025

Meiotic Spindle Assessment in Mouse Oocytes by siRNA-mediated Silencing
Published on: October 11, 2015
Microtubule-severing protein Fidgetin-like 1 promotes spindle organization during meiosis of mouse oocytes
Hua-Feng Shou1, Zhen Jin2, Yan Yu1
1Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang310014, China.
Abstract:
Microtubule-severing proteins (MTSPs) play important roles in mitosis and interphase. However, to the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have evaluated the role of MTSPs in female meiosis in mammals. It was found that FIGNL1, a member of MTSPs, was predominantly expressed in mouse oocytes and distributed at the spindle poles during meiosis in the present study. FIGNL1 was co-localized and interacted with γ-tubulin, an important component of the microtubule tissue centre (MTOC). Fignl1 knockdown by specific small interfering RNA caused spindle defects characterized by an abnormal length:width ratio and decreased microtubule density, which consequently led to aberrant chromosome arrangement, oocyte maturation and fertilization obstacles. In conclusion, the present results suggested that FIGNL1 may be an essential factor in oocyte maturation by influencing the meiosis process via the formation of spindles.
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