Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Preclinical animal models are essential for the development of effective treatments. For instance, the 5xFAD mouse model successfully represents the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Expression of humanized APP (K670N/M671L - Swedish, I716V - Florida, V717I - London) and PSEN1 (M146L and L286V), found in early onset AD patients, induces the production of amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42) and amyloid deposition, gliosis, and progressive neuronal loss.

Microtubule organizing centers regulate spindle positioning in mouse oocytes.

During female meiosis I (MI), spindle positioning must be tightly regulated to ensure the fidelity of the first asymmetric division and faithful chromosome segregation. Although the role of F-actin in regulating these critical processes has been studied extensively, little is known about whether microtubules (MTs) participate in regulating these processes. Using mouse oocytes as a model system, we characterize a subset of MT organizing centers that do not contribute directly to spindle assembly, termed mcMTOCs.