Abstract
Female germ cell meiotic divisions are typically asymmetric, giving rise to two daughter cells with different sizes. Spindle movements including spindle migration from the oocyte center to the cortex and spindle rotation from parallel to perpendicular (typically in the mouse) at the cortex are crucial for these asymmetric divisions and therefore are crucial for gamete production. Different regulatory mechanisms for spindle movements have been determined in different species and a wide variety of different molecular components and processes that are involved in spindle movements have also been identified in different species. Here, we review the current state of knowledge as well as our understanding of mechanisms for spindle movements in different systems with focus on three main aspects: microtubules (MT), microfilaments (MF) and molecules associated with cytoskeletal organization as well as molecules that are not directly related to the cytoskeleton. How they might interact or function independently during female meiotic divisions in different species is discussed in detail.
Highlights
During female germ cell meiosis, asymmetric cell divisions take place to ensure that most of the maternal stores are retained within the oocyte, resulting in the formation of daughter cells with different sizes: the large oocyte and the small polar bodies
Extensive studies of meiotic spindle motility in mouse oocytes have revealed a detailed series of movements during meiotic asymmetric divisions: during first meiotic division, the MI spindle forms initially at the center of the oocyte and migrates toward the periphery; the first polar body (PB1) is extruded after microtubule-cortex attachment (Maro et al, 1984; Longo and Chen, 1985; Maro et al, 1986; Verlhac et al, 2000; Maro and Verlhac, 2002; Wang et al, 2008)
In mouse oocytes, we found that nocodazole at lower dosage could impair spindle morphology partially with the spindlechromosomes complex remaining near the center of the oocyte (Ai et al, 2008b), which indicates that dynamic spindle polymerization is crucial for spindle migration in mouse oocytes
Summary
ABSTRACT : Female germ cell meiotic divisions are typically asymmetric, giving rise to two daughter cells with different sizes. We review the current state of knowledge as well as our understanding of mechanisms for spindle movements in different systems with focus on three main aspects: microtubules (MT), microfilaments (MF) and molecules associated with cytoskeletal organization as well as molecules that are not directly related to the cytoskeleton. How they might interact or function independently during female meiotic divisions in different species is discussed in detail. How they might interact or function independently during female meiotic divisions in different species is discussed in detail. (Key Words : Spindle Movement, Meiotic Division, Cytoskeleton, Oocyte)
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