Mater encodes a maternal protein in mice with a leucine-rich repeat domain homologous to porcine ribonuclease inhibitor

Abstract

MATER (Maternal Antigen That Embryos Require) is an ooplasm-specific protein first identified as an antigen (OP1) associated with ovarian autoimmunity in mice. Its primary structure has been deduced from full-length cDNA that encodes a 125-kDa protein required for progression of the mouse embryo beyond two cells. Expression of the gene encoding MATER is restricted to the oocyte, which makes it one of a growing, but still limited, number of maternal-effect genes in mammals. To further investigate the function of MATER during oogenesis and early development, we have characterized the gene and resultant protein. Mater is a single-copy gene in the genome of 129/Sv mice and is located at the proximal end of Chromosome (Chr) 7. The gene, spanning approximately 32 kbp, contains 15 exons ranging in size from 48 to 1576 bp, which together encode the 111 amino acid MATER protein. The first five exons encode 26-27 amino acid hydrophilic repeats and exons 8-14 encode 14 leucine-rich repeats. The three-dimensional structure of the latter domain can be closely modeled on the previously determined X-ray crystallographic coordinates of porcine ribonuclease inhibitor. These characterizations of the gene and protein provide the basis for genetic investigations of MATER function in early mammalian development.

Endogenous Oocyte Antigens Are Required for Rapid Induction and Progression of Autoimmune Ovarian Disease Following Day-3 Thymectomy

“…In this study, we have documented the multiple oocyte Ag to which the autoimmune responses of d3tx B6AF1 mice are directed. The 110-kDa oocyte Ag, which may elicit the earliest autoimmune response, has been characterized by Tong and Nelson (17) as a prefertilization oocyte protein required for blastocyst formation after fertilization (25). In this study, we have shown clearly that the transcript for this oocyte autoantigen is detectable in B6AF1 ovaries on the day of birth, and that oocyte Ag are recognized by autoantibodies 1 day later, and by CD4 T cells as early as 3 days later.…”

The mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in oocytes and embryos and its effects on the development of early embryos in cattle

“…Recently, multiple approaches have been undertaken to identify genes preferentially expressed in the oocyte and embryo, and two new key genes in mouse models, including factor in the germline (Figla), newborn ovary homeobox gene (Nobox), were obtained (Liang et al, 1997;Rajkovic et al, 2004). Besides, there are some other oocyte-and embryo-specific genes, including growth differentiation factor 9, Gdf9 (McGrath et al, 1995), maternal antigen that embryos require, Mater (Tong et al, 2000), zygote arrest 1, Zar1 (Wu et al, 2003) and neurotrophins (NTs) (Paredes et al, 2004).…”

The NOD: a signaling module that regulates apoptosis and host defense against pathogens

“…Mater, the oocyte-speci®c maternal protein has an Nterminal uncharacterized domain, central NOD and Cterminal LRRs (Tong and Nelson, 1999;Tong et al, 2000a). Although the molecular function of Mater remains unknown, the null Mater mutation is lethal at the two-cell embryo stage, suggesting that Mater plays an essential role on cell viability at early stages of embryogenesis (Tong et al, 2000b).…”