Rab3A, Rab27A, and Rab35 regulate different events during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation and activation

Histochem Cell Biol. 2016 Jun;145(6):647-57. doi: 10.1007/s00418-015-1404-5. Epub 2016 Jan 20.

Abstract

Rab family members play important roles in membrane trafficking, cell growth, and differentiation. Almost all components of the cell endomembrane system, the nucleus, and the plasma membrane are closely related to RAB proteins. In this study, we investigated the distribution and functions of three members of the Rab family, Rab3A, Rab27A, and Rab35, in mouse oocyte meiotic maturation and activation. The three Rab family members showed different localization patterns in oocytes. Microinjection of siRNA, antibody injection, or inhibitor treatment showed that (1) Rab3A regulates peripheral spindle and cortical granule (CG) migration, polarity establishment, and asymmetric division; (2) Rab27A regulates CG exocytosis following MII-stage oocyte activation; and (3) Rab35 plays an important role in spindle organization and morphology maintenance, and thus meiotic nuclear maturation. These results show that Rab proteins play important roles in mouse oocyte meiotic maturation and activation and that different members exert different distinct functions.

Keywords: Cortical granules; Meiotic maturation; Rab27A; Rab35; Rab3A.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Meiosis*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Oocytes / cytology*
  • Oocytes / metabolism*
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • rab27 GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rab3A GTP-Binding Protein / analysis
  • rab3A GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • rab3A GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • rab27 GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Rab35 protein, mouse
  • Rab27a protein, mouse
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rab3A GTP-Binding Protein