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Functional Manipulation of Maternal Gene Products Using In Vitro Oocyte Maturation in Zebrafish
Published on: April 22, 2017
MPF Regulates Oocyte and Embryo Development During Parthenogenesis Induction in Silkworm, Bombyx mori
Chenkai Ma1,2, Fang Xu1,2, Chengjie Hu1,2
1College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
Abstract:
In most species, oocytes are arrested at the prophase or metaphase of meiosis I and require sperm-derived or external stimuli to resume meiosis. Maturation-promoting factor (MPF) is an oocyte maturation factor composing the catalytic subunit Cdc2 and the regulatory subunit CycB that can restart stalled meiosis. In this study, we demonstrated that MPF activity affected parthenogenesis induction in the model lepidopteran insect Bombyx mori using activator and inhibitor interference. We found that the upregulation of MPF activity significantly increased the parthenogenesis induction rate, whereas downregulation significantly reduced it. Furthermore, the inhibition of MPF activity also led to a delay in embryonic development. Given its evolutionary conservation, MPF emerges as a potential universal target for manipulating reproductive outcomes, offering broad applications in genetics and selective breeding.
Insights
Maturation-promoting factor (MPF) restarts meiosis in oocytes. Upregulating MPF boosts parthenogenesis in Bombyx mori, while downregulating it hinders development, suggesting MPF as a target for reproductive manipulation.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Insect Genetics
Background:
- Oocyte meiotic arrest is common, requiring external stimuli to resume.
- Maturation-promoting factor (MPF), comprising Cdc2 and CycB, restarts meiosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of MPF activity in parthenogenesis induction in Bombyx mori.
- To assess MPF's impact on embryonic development.
Main Methods:
- Interference with MPF activity using activators and inhibitors in Bombyx mori.
- Quantification of parthenogenesis induction rates.
- Observation of embryonic development.
Main Results:
- Upregulating MPF activity significantly increased parthenogenesis induction rates.
- Downregulating MPF activity significantly reduced parthenogenesis induction rates.
- Inhibition of MPF activity delayed embryonic development.
Conclusions:
- MPF activity is crucial for successful parthenogenesis induction in Bombyx mori.
- MPF is a potential universal target for manipulating reproductive outcomes.
- Findings have broad applications in insect genetics and selective breeding.
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