Abstract
During meiosis in oocytes of the starfish, Asterina pectinifera, a Ca2+ transient has been observed. To clarify the role of Ca2+ during oocyte maturation in starfish, an intracellular Ca2+ blocker, TMB-8, was applied. The oocyte maturation induced by 1-methyladenine (1-MA) was blocked by 100 μM TMB-8. Reinitiation of meiosis with germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and the following chromosome condensation did not take place. Maturation-promoting factor (MPF) activity did not increase and GVBD and chromosome condensation did not occur. Ca2+ transient observed immediately after 1-MA application in control oocytes was also blocked by TMB-8. When calyculin A, which activate the MPF directly, was applied to the oocytes instead of 1-MA in seawater containing 100 μM TMB-8, GVBD and chromosome condensation were blocked. Cytoplasmic transplantation studies confirmed that MPF was activated, although TMB-8 blocked GVBD. These results show that TMB-8 blocked the increase of MPF activity induced by 1-MA and the process of active MPF inducing GVBD and subsequent chromosome condensation. Together with the above phenomena, it is conceivable that there are two phases of Ca2+ requirement during starfish oocyte maturation. These are the activation of MPF, moreover, GVBD, and the subsequent chromosome condensation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 432-437 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology |
Volume | 147 |
Issue number | 2 SPEC. ISS. |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2007 Jun |
Keywords
- Calcium wave
- Cdc2
- Chromosome condensation
- GVBD
- Histone kinase
- MPF
- Oocyte maturation
- TMB-8
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Molecular Biology