Expression of Alternative Ago2 Isoform Associated with Loss of microRNA-Driven Translational Repression in Mouse Oocytes.

ABSTRACT: Mouse oocyte maturation, fertilization, and reprogramming occur in the absence of transcription, and thus, changes in mRNA levels and translation rate are regulated through post-transcriptional mechanisms [1]. Surprisingly, microRNA function, which is a major form of post-transcriptional regulation, is absent during this critical period of mammalian development [2, 3]. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the global suppression of microRNA activity. In both mouse and frogs, microRNA function was active in growing oocytes but then absent during oocyte maturation. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of mouse oocytes uncovered that the microRNA effector protein AGO2 is predominantly expressed as an alternative isoform that encodes a truncated protein lacking all of the known essential domains

SUBMITTER: Freimer JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5790201 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature