Developmental Expression and Subcellular Localization of Mouse MATER, an Oocyte-Specific Protein Essential for Early Development

Abstract

We reported previously that Mater is a maternal effect gene that is required for early embryonic development beyond the two-cell stage in mice. Here we show the expressional profile of Mater and its protein during oogenesis and embryogenesis as well as its subcellular localization in oocytes. Mater mRNA was detectable earliest in oocytes of type 2 follicles, whereas MATER protein appeared earliest in oocytes of type 3a primary follicles. Both mRNA and protein accumulated during oocyte growth. In situ hybridization showed that Mater mRNA appeared progressively less abundant in oocytes beyond type 5a primary follicles. By ribonuclease protection assay, Mater mRNA was abundant in germinal vesicle oocytes, but was undetectable in all stages of preimplantation embryos. In contrast, the protein persisted throughout preimplantation development. Immunogold electron microscopic analysis revealed that MATER was located in oocyte mitochondria and nucleoli, and close to nuclear pores. Taken together, our data indicate that Mater gene transcription and protein translation are active during oogenesis, but appear inactive during early embryogenesis. Thus, Mater and its protein are expressed in a manner typical of maternal effect genes. The presence of MATER protein in mitochondria and nucleoli suggests that it may participate in both cytoplasmic and nuclear events during early development.

Peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) 6 is essential for oocyte cytoskeletal sheet formation and female fertility

“…were isolated and cultured as described by Rose et al, 1991 ). Furthermore, the capability of the PAD6-deficient oocytes to reach complete maturation was assessed by analyzing the expression of marker genes essential for zygote development (Tong et al, 2004) or sperm binding (Liu et al, 1996). No changes in the expression of either MATER or ZP3 were observed (Fig 2b and 2c).…”

Expression patterns of Nlrp9a, Nlrp9b and Nlrp9c during mouse development

“…Meanwhile, the expression of Nlrp9a, Nlrp9b and Nlrp9c is restricted to the oocytes within the ovary. These expression patterns are identical to that of Nlrp5 in ovaries from the mouse (Tong et al 2000(Tong et al , 2004, bovine (Pennetier et al 2006;Ponsuksili et al 2006), pig (Pisani et al 2010, rhesus macaque (McDaniel & Wu 2009;Wu 2009) and human (Tong et al 2002).…”

Changes of various natural autoantibodies concentration in gestational complications

“…Pregnancy-Specific Glycoproteins) [17], белок Mater (от англ. Maternal Antigen that Embryos Require) [18], кардиальные антигены La и Ro, избыток материнских антител к которым почти неизбежно вызывает стойкие нарушения функций миокарда у плода [19], почечные анти-гены, антитела к которым формируют патоло-гию почек у ребёнка [20], и многие другие.…”