Aven is dynamically regulated during Xenopus oocyte maturation and is required for oocyte survival.

ABSTRACT: We have analyzed the expression and function of the cell death and cell cycle regulator Aven in Xenopus. Analysis of Xenopus Aven expression in oocytes and embryos revealed a band close to the predicted molecular weight of the protein (36 kDa) in addition to two bands of higher molecular weight (46 and 49 kDa), one of which was determined to be due to phosphorylation of the protein. The protein is primarily detected in the cytoplasm of oocytes and is tightly regulated during meiotic and mitotic cell cycles. Progesterone stimulation of oocytes resulted in a rapid loss of Aven expression with the protein levels recovering before germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). This loss of Aven is required for the G2-M1 cell cycle transition. Aven morpholino knockdown experiments revealed that early deple

SUBMITTER: O'Shea L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3847313 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature