KIF20A regulates porcine oocyte maturation and early embryo development

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 18;9(7):e102898. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102898. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

KIF20A (Kinesin-like family member 20A), also called mitotic kinesin-like proteins 2 (MKLP2), is a mammalian mitotic kinesin-like motor protein of the Kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs), which was originally involved in Golgi apparatus dynamics and thought to essential for cell cycle regulation during successful cytokinesis. In the present study, we investigated whether KIF20A has roles on porcine oocyte meiotic maturation and subsequent early embryo development. By immunofluorescence staining, KIF20A was found to exhibit a dynamic localization pattern during meiosis. KIF20A was restricted to centromeres after germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), transferred to the midbody at telophase I (TI), and again associated with centromeres at metaphase II (MII). Inhibition of endogenous KIF20A via a specific inhibitor, Paprotrain, resulted in failure of polar body extrusion. Further cell cycle analysis showed that the percentage of oocytes that arrested at early metaphase I (MI) stage increased after KIF20A activity inhibition; however, the proportion of oocytes at anaphase/telophase I (ATI) and MII stages decreased significantly. Our results also showed that KIF20A inhibition did not affect spindle morphology. In addition, KIF20A was localized at the nucleus of early embryos, and KIF20A inhibition resulted in failure of early parthenogenetic embryo development. These results demonstrated that KIF20A is critical for porcine oocyte meiotic maturation and subsequent early embryo development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
  • Embryo, Mammalian / physiology
  • Embryonic Development / physiology*
  • Kinesins / metabolism*
  • Meiosis / physiology
  • Metaphase / physiology
  • Polar Bodies / metabolism*
  • Polar Bodies / physiology*
  • Swine
  • Telophase / physiology

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Kinesins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2014CB138503), and Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of the Ministry of Education of China (20120097120007 and 20130097110020). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.