Involvement of Rab6a in organelle rearrangement and cytoskeletal organization during mouse oocyte maturation

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 31:6:23560. doi: 10.1038/srep23560.

Abstract

Rab GTPases have been reported to define the identity and transport routes of vesicles. Rab6 is one of the most extensively studied Rab proteins involved in regulating organelle trafficking and integrity maintenance. However, to date, the function of Rab6 in mammalian oocytes has not been addressed. Here we report severe disorganization of endoplasmic reticulum upon specific knockdown of Rab6a in mouse oocytes. In line with this finding, intracellular Ca(2+) stores are accordingly reduced in Rab6a-depleted oocytes. Furthermore, in these oocytes, we observe the absence of cortical granule free domain, which is a kind of special organelle in matured oocytes and its exocytosis is calcium dependent. On the other hand, following Rab6a knockdown, the prominent defects of cytoskeletal structures are detected during oocyte meiosis. In particular, the majority of Rab6a-depleted oocytes fail to form the actin cap, and the frequency of spindle defects and chromosome misalignment is significantly elevated. In summary, our data reveal that Rab6a not only participates in modulating the organization of oocyte organelles, but also is a novel regulator of meiotic apparatus in mammalian oocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Chromosome Segregation
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / metabolism
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / ultrastructure
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • Cytoskeleton / ultrastructure
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / ultrastructure
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism
  • Golgi Apparatus / ultrastructure
  • Meiosis*
  • Mice
  • Oocytes / metabolism*
  • Oocytes / ultrastructure
  • Oogenesis / genetics*
  • Protein Isoforms / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism*
  • Spindle Apparatus / ultrastructure
  • Transport Vesicles / metabolism
  • Transport Vesicles / ultrastructure
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Rab6 protein
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Calcium