Oocytes arrest in prophase of meiosis I and, after hormonal stimulation, resume meiosis, undergoing two divisions without S-phase to arrest in metaphase of meiosis II until fertilization. This transition, called meiotic maturation, is essential for producing fertilizable eggs. In the lab, we study the signaling pathways regulating this critical oogenesis step. Using Xenopus oocytes, we investigate how synthesis and degradation of cell division regulators control meiotic progression.
In vertebrate oocytes, the prophase arrest is maintained by cAMP-dependent kinase (PKA). Upon hormonal stimulation, PKA is inactivated, triggering a signaling pathway that involves the remodeling of protein homeostasis. This pathway leads to the activation of Cdk1, the master regulator of eukaryotic cell division, that induces oocyte meiotic divisions. Our research aims to identify and characterize the actors regulating Cdk1 activation. Using biochemical and -omics approaches, we focus on the regulation of protein translation and degradation during this critical transition. Our work will shed light on the mechanisms controlling the decision of the cell to divide, with implications in the field of reproductive biology.
