Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Meiotic Spindle Assessment in Mouse Oocytes by siRNA-mediated Silencing
09:16

Meiotic Spindle Assessment in Mouse Oocytes by siRNA-mediated Silencing

Published on: October 11, 2015

11.8K

Ste20-like kinase activity promotes meiotic resumption and spindle microtubule stability in mouse oocytes

Ke Song1, Xiuying Jiang2, Xiangning Xu1

  • 1Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Cell Proliferation
|December 29, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Ste20-like kinase (SLK) is crucial for mouse oocyte meiosis, regulating meiotic resumption and spindle assembly. Its depletion impairs key phosphorylation events and leads to spindle defects, highlighting its essential role in female gamete maturation.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Reproductive Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Ste20-like kinase (SLK) regulates proliferation and migration in somatic cells.
  • Its role in oocyte meiosis remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and function of SLK during mouse oocyte meiosis.
  • To elucidate SLK's role in meiotic resumption and spindle organization.

Main Methods:

  • Western blot, immunofluorescence, and co-immunoprecipitation were used to detect SLK expression and localization.
  • Morpholino oligos (MO) and cRNA microinjection were employed for SLK knockdown and overexpression studies.
  • Drug treatments and kinase-dead mutants assessed SLK's enzymatic activity.

Main Results:

  • SLK is highly expressed in mouse oocytes, localizing to the nucleus, chromosomes, and spindle.
  • SLK phosphorylation peaks during metaphase I and II; its knockdown delays meiotic resumption by inhibiting Plk1 and CDC25C phosphorylation and CDK1 dephosphorylation.
  • SLK depletion causes spindle defects via paxillin degradation, which is rescued by active SLK.

Conclusions:

  • SLK is essential for timely meiotic resumption in mouse oocytes.
  • SLK plays a critical role in maintaining spindle assembly and chromosome alignment.
  • SLK function is vital for oocyte quality, particularly in aging oocytes with diminished SLK levels.

More Related Videos

Using Mouse Oocytes to Assess Human Gene Function During Meiosis I11:13

Using Mouse Oocytes to Assess Human Gene Function During Meiosis I

Published on: April 10, 2018

9.0K
Multi-Photon Laser Ablation of Cytoplasmic Microtubule Organizing Centers in Mouse Oocytes08:24

Multi-Photon Laser Ablation of Cytoplasmic Microtubule Organizing Centers in Mouse Oocytes

Published on: November 11, 2022

1.7K

Related Concept Videos

Meiosis II02:02

Meiosis II

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,...
46.0K
Meiosis vs. Mitosis02:57

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
57.4K
The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint02:19

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

The spindle assembly checkpoint is a molecular surveillance mechanism ensuring the fidelity of chromosome segregation during anaphase. The checkpoint monitors the completion of all the prerequisite steps before chromosome segregation to determine whether the segregation process should proceed or be delayed.
Many proteins function together to control the spindle assembly checkpoint. Mutations affecting these proteins may allow cells to proceed into anaphase prematurely, resulting in the...
3.2K
M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis02:15

M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis

Checkpoints throughout the cell cycle serve as safeguards and gatekeepers, allowing the cell cycle to progress in favorable conditions and slow or halt it in problematic ones. This regulation is known as the cell cycle control system.
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...
5.7K
The Mitotic Spindle02:27

The Mitotic Spindle

The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures...
6.7K
Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

Destabilization of Microtubules

The destabilization of microtubules can occur during different stages of the microtubule lifecycle, such as nucleation or elongation. It can take place at either end of the microtubule or in the microtubule lattices as a whole. The lifespan of individual microtubules within a cell varies according to the cell type and stage of the cell cycle. During interphase, the lifespan of the microtubule is about 30 minutes, while during cell division, it is about 15 minutes. In axonal microtubules of...
2.8K