Stable kinetochore-microtubule attachments restrict MTOC position and spindle elongation in oocytes.

In mouse oocytes, acentriolar MTOCs functionally replace centrosomes and act as microtubule nucleation sites. Microtubules nucleated from MTOCs initially assemble into an unorganized ball-like structure, which then transforms into a bipolar spindle carrying MTOCs at its poles, a process called spindle bipolarization. In mouse oocytes, spindle bipolarization is promoted by kinetochores but the mechanism by which kinetochore-microtubule attachments contribute to spindle bipolarity remains unclear.

Prc1-rich kinetochores are required for error-free acentrosomal spindle bipolarization during meiosis I in mouse oocytes.

Acentrosomal meiosis in oocytes represents a gametogenic challenge, requiring spindle bipolarization without predefined bipolar cues. While much is known about the structures that promote acentrosomal microtubule nucleation, less is known about the structures that mediate spindle bipolarization in mammalian oocytes. Here, we show that in mouse oocytes, kinetochores are required for spindle bipolarization in meiosis I.

Triple-Color Live Imaging of Mouse Oocytes.

Meiotic division is a dynamic process that exhibits active interactive behaviors amongst different intracellular structures and components for spindle assembly and chromosome segregation. Understanding the mechanisms of meiotic spindle assembly and chromosome segregation therefore requires a quantitative analysis of spatiotemporal relationships among different structures and components. In this chapter, we describe a method for triple-color live imaging of meiotic division in mouse oocytes.

The Apical Domain Is Required and Sufficient for the First Lineage Segregation in the Mouse Embryo.

Mammalian development begins with segregation of the extra-embryonic trophectoderm from the embryonic lineage in the blastocyst. While cell polarity and adhesion play key roles, the decisive cue driving this lineage segregation remains elusive. Here, to study symmetry breaking, we use a reduced system in which isolated blastomeres recapitulate the first lineage segregation.

Gradual meiosis-to-mitosis transition in the early mouse embryo.

The transition from meiosis to mitosis is a fundamental process to guarantee the successful development of the embryo. In the mouse, the transition includes extensive reorganisation of the division machinery, centrosome establishment and changes in spindle proprieties and characteristic. Recent findings indicate that this transition is gradual and lasts until the late blastocyst stage.

The transition from meiotic to mitotic spindle assembly is gradual during early mammalian development.

The transition from meiosis to mitosis, classically defined by fertilization, is a fundamental process in development. However, its mechanism remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we report a surprising gradual transition from meiosis to mitosis over the first eight divisions of the mouse embryo.