Survey of O-GlcNAc level variations in Xenopus laevis from oogenesis to early development

Glycoconj J. 2009 Apr;26(3):301-11. doi: 10.1007/s10719-008-9166-0. Epub 2008 Jul 17.

Abstract

Little is known about the impact of O-linked-N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAc) in gametes production and developmental processes. Here we investigated changes in O-GlcNAc, UDP-GlcNAc and O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) levels in Xenopus laevis from oogenesis to embryo hatching. We showed that in comparison to stage VI, stages I-V oocytes expressed higher levels of O-GlcNAc correlating changes in OGT expression, but not in UDP-GlcNAc pools. Upon progesterone stimulation, an O-GlcNAc level burst occurred during meiotic resumption long before MPF and Mos-Erk2 pathways activations. Finally, we observed high levels of O-GlcNAc, UDP-GlcNAc and OGT during segmentation that decreased concomitantly at the onset of gastrulation. Nevertheless, no correlation between the glycosylation, the nucleotide-sugar and the glycosyltransferase was observed after neurulation. Our results show that O-GlcNAc is regulated throughout oogenesis and development within a complex pattern and suggest that dysfunctions in the dynamics of this glycosylation could lead to developmental abnormalities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / cytology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / drug effects
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / enzymology
  • Embryonic Development* / drug effects
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Maturation-Promoting Factor / metabolism
  • Meiosis / drug effects
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / metabolism
  • Oocytes / cytology
  • Oocytes / drug effects
  • Oocytes / enzymology
  • Oogenesis* / drug effects
  • Progesterone / pharmacology
  • Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylglucosamine / metabolism
  • Xenopus laevis / embryology*
  • Xenopus laevis / metabolism*

Substances

  • Progesterone
  • Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylglucosamine
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases
  • O-GlcNAc transferase
  • Maturation-Promoting Factor
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Acetylglucosamine