Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2025

Defining the Program of Maternal mRNA Translation during In vitro Maturation using a Single Oocyte Reporter Assay
Published on: June 16, 2021
The GPER is an important factor through which somatic cells regulate oocyte maternal mRNA translation and
Hui Zhang1, Chan Li1, Sihai Lu1
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) plays a crucial role in various biological processes, but its regulation of oocyte meiosis remains unclear. In this study, we generated a Gper1 knockout in growing oocytes using Zp3-Cre, revealing that GPER is essential for oocyte maturation and embryo development. RNA-seq analysis indicated that GPER deficiency significantly altered the oocyte transcriptome and disrupted mRNA translation. Immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry revealed that GPER directly interacts with HSP90 and modulates the ERK1/2 and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways, which are vital for enhancing maternal mRNA translation and developmental potential. We also found that cumulus cell-derived GPER-positive vesicles and delivered to oocytes through a RAB11A-dependent pathway. RAB11A facilitates GPER recycling, preventing its degradation in late endosomes and promoting its plasma membrane localization. Moreover, epidermal growth factor (EGF) improves GPER expression in cumulus cells by upregulating RAB11A, thereby enhancing the exocytosis of recycling vesicles. Knockdown of Rab11a severely reduced GPER-positive vesicles in oocytes, impairing spindle morphogenesis and meiosis. Our findings highlight the critical role of somatic cell signals in regulating maternal mRNA translation and oocyte quality for embryonic development.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps
Oogenesis
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Master Transcription Regulators
What is Gene Expression?
Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...

