Preprint Highlight: Age-dependent loss of cohesion protection in human oocytes

Abstract

Age-dependent loss of cohesion is a determinant of aneuploidy in human oocytes. Mechanisms for how this loss is triggered with age are not known. Using oocytes from human participants of various ages, the authors correlate loss of Sgo2, a protector of cohesins, with age-related meiosis II cohesion defects including increased inter-kinetochore distances and single chromatids. High-resolution microscopy reveals age-dependent loss of Sgo2 specifically from pericentromeric bridges, but not from centromeric regions. This study highlights the role of pericentromeric cohesins in upholding sister-chromatid cohesion, even when centromeric cohesins are protected. This work is relevant to researchers interested in chromosome biology, meiosis, aneuploidy mechanisms, and fertility. This preprint has been assigned the following badges: New Hypothesis. Read the preprint on bioRxiv ( Mihalas et al., 2023 ): https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.01.13.523952 .