Oocyte Cytoskeleton
Oocyte Cytoskeleton - Related Videos
05:43
Capturing Cytoskeleton-Based Agitation of the Mouse Oocyte Nucleus Across Spatial Scales
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Cited by 2 •
2024
This protocol provides an experimental framework to document the physical impact of the cytoskeleton on nuclear shape and the internal membrane-less organelles in the mouse oocyte system. The framework can be adapted for use in other cell types and contexts.
12:52
Use of Shigella flexneri to Study Autophagy-Cytoskeleton Interactions
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Cited by 14 •
2014
To counteract pathogen dissemination, host cells reorganize their cytoskeleton to compartmentalize bacteria and induce autophagy. Using Shigella infection of tissue culture cells, host and pathogen determinants underlying this process are identified and characterized. Using zebrafish models of Shigella infection, the role of discovered molecules and mechanisms are investigated in vivo.
13:18
Single Oocyte Bisulfite Mutagenesis
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Cited by 14 •
2012
Bisulfite mutagenesis is the gold standard for analyzing DNA methylation. Our modified protocol allows for DNA methylation analysis at the single-cell level and was specifically designed for individual oocytes. It can also be used for cleavage-stage embryos.
08:00
Patch Clamp Recording of Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes
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Cited by 12 •
2008
This is intended as an introduction to patch clamp recording from Xenopus laevis oocytes. It covers vitelline membrane removal, formation of a gigaohm seal (gigaseal), and the optional conversion of the patch to the outside-out topology.
12:10
Microinjection of Xenopus Laevis Oocytes
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Cited by 14 •
2009
Here we demonstrate cytoplasmic microinjection of Xenopus laevis oocytes with a nuclear import substrate, as well as preparation of the injected oocytes for visualization by thin-sectioning electron microscopy.
FAQs
In many oocytes, the meiotic spindle forms without centrosome-based organization. Consequently, microtubule organization must establish a functional structure that aligns and segregates chromosomes during maturation. This dependence makes spindle architecture especially sensitive to cytoskeletal changes, and errors in that organization can interfere with meiotic progression or produce chromosome-segregation errors.
Microtubules and actin filaments contribute different but connected functions. Microtubules organize the meiotic spindle and help support chromosome segregation, whereas actin networks and the cortical cytoskeleton help position the spindle and coordinate polar body extrusion. Their coordinated activity links internal division machinery with the cell cortex, allowing maturation to proceed while preserving spatial organization.
Spindle positioning brings the meiotic division machinery into the correct relationship with the cortex, where polar body extrusion occurs. The cortical cytoskeleton therefore does more than maintain cell shape: it helps coordinate the spatial events accompanying chromosome segregation and division. If this organization is disturbed, maturation and the resulting chromosome distribution may be compromised.
A focused analysis can follow cytoskeletal organization across oocyte maturation, examining microtubule assembly into the meiotic spindle, actin and cortical organization, spindle position, chromosome segregation, and polar body extrusion. Considering these features together connects structural changes with functional outcomes. This framework helps distinguish defects in spindle formation from problems in cortical positioning or division coordination.
Researchers can relate cytoskeletal changes to aneuploidy by asking whether altered spindle organization or impaired chromosome segregation accompanies maturation abnormalities. Because oocytes depend on acentrosomal spindle assembly, cytoskeletal disruption offers a mechanistic context for chromosome-number errors. This connection is particularly relevant to studies of age-related aneuploidy, where division fidelity is a central concern.
Although its most visible functions occur during maturation, the oocyte cytoskeleton has broader relevance to reproductive biology. Its organization affects the production of a mature oocyte with properly segregated chromosomes, creating a foundation for fertilization and early embryo development. Studying these relationships also informs assisted reproduction research by connecting cytoskeletal processes with reproductive outcomes.