Spatio-temporal expression of ANK2 promotes cytokinesis in oocytes

Abstract

AbstractIn the absence of transcription, the regulation of gene expression in oocytes is controlled almost exclusively at the level of transcriptome and proteome stabilization, and translation. A subset of maternal transcripts is stored in a translationally dormant state in the oocyte, and temporally driven translation of specific mRNAs propel meiotic progression, oocyte-to-embryo transition and early embryo development. We identifiedAnk2.3as the only transcript variant present in the mouse oocyte and discovered that it is translated after nuclear envelope breakdown. Here we show thatAnk2.3mRNA is localized in higher concentration in the oocyte nucleoplasm and, after nuclear envelope breakdown, in the newly forming spindle where its translation occurs. Furthermore, we reveal thatAnk2.3mRNA contains an oligo-pyrimidine motif at 5′UTR that predetermines its translation through a cap-dependent pathway. Lastly, we show that prevention of ANK2 translation leads to abnormalities in oocyte cytokinesis.