The microtubule-associated protein ASPM regulates spindle assembly and meiotic progression in mouse oocytes

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e49303. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049303. Epub 2012 Nov 13.

Abstract

The microtubule-associated protein ASPM (abnormal spindle-like microcephaly-associated) plays an important role in spindle organization and cell division in mitosis and meiosis in lower animals, but its function in mouse oocyte meiosis has not been investigated. In this study, we characterized the localization and expression dynamics of ASPM during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation and analyzed the effects of the downregulation of ASPM expression on meiotic spindle assembly and meiotic progression. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that ASPM localized to the entire spindle at metaphase I (MI) and metaphase II (MII), colocalizing with the spindle microtubule protein acetylated tubulin (Ac-tubulin). In taxol-treated oocytes, ASPM colocalized with Ac-tubulin on the excessively polymerized microtubule fibers of enlarged spindles and the numerous asters in the cytoplasm. Nocodazole treatment induced the gradual disassembly of microtubule fibers, during which ASPM remained colocalized with the dynamic Ac-tubulin. The downregulation of ASPM expression by a gene-specific morpholino resulted in an abnormal meiotic spindle and inhibited meiotic progression; most of the treated oocytes were blocked in the MI stage with elongated meiotic spindles. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry and western blot analysis revealed that ASPM interacted with calmodulin in MI oocytes and that these proteins colocalized at the spindle. Our results provide strong evidence that ASPM plays a critical role in meiotic spindle assembly and meiotic progression in mouse oocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calmodulin / metabolism
  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Meiosis* / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Morpholinos / pharmacology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Oocytes / cytology*
  • Oocytes / drug effects
  • Oocytes / metabolism*
  • Spindle Apparatus / drug effects
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism*
  • Subcellular Fractions / drug effects
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism

Substances

  • ASPM protein, mouse
  • Calmodulin
  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Morpholinos
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grant 2011AA100303 from the National High-Tech R&D program and grant 2011BAD19B01 from the National Key Technology R&D program. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.