Xenopus laevis oocyte as a model for the study of the cytoskeleton

Abstract

At the beginning of diplotene, the oocyte of Xenopus laevis is a cell of about 10–20 microns destined to increase 10,000-fold its size when the oocyte becomes filled with yolk platelets and has accumulated a great number of pigment granules in a half of its periphery. Its internal architecture is gradually accomplished during growth because of several factors, especially because of cytoskeletal changes. In the fully-grown oocyte, the cytoskeleton appears to sustain the eccentrically located germinal vesicle through arms radiating from the cortex to the germinal vesicle, a unique organization not to be found in other Amphibians. In this report, we summarized and analysed steps of cytoskeletal proteins and related mRNAs organization and function throughout diplotene stage, highlighting our studies in this animal model. The cytoskeletal proteins appear to exploit their activity with respect to ribosomal 60S subunit maturation and during translation. Most importantly, the polarity of the oocyte is achieved through a sophisticated and highly organized localization of mRNAs and cytoskeletal proteins in one side of the cell. This asymmetry will start the construction of the oocyte polarity that is instrumental for determining the characteristic of this cell, which will become an embryo. Moreover, in the same time membrane composition, conditioned by the underlying cytoskeletal organization, will acquire the prerequisites for sperm binding and fusion.