Xp38gamma/SAPK3 promotes meiotic G(2)/M transition in Xenopus oocytes and activates Cdc25C.

Eusebio Perdiguero, Marie-Jeanne Pillaire, Jean-Francois Bodart, Florian Hennersdorf, Morten Frödin, Nicholas S Duesbery, Gema Alonso, Angel R Nebreda

    39 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We have studied the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the meiotic maturation of Xenopus oocytes. Overexpression of a constitutively active mutant of the p38 activator MKK6 accelerates progesterone-induced maturation. Immunoprecipit ation experiments indicate that p38gamma/SAPK3 is the major p38 activated by MKK6 in the oocytes. We have cloned Xenopus p38gamma (Xp38gamma) and show that co-expression of active MKK6 with Xp38gamma induces oocyte maturation in the absence of progesterone. The maturation induced by Xp38gamma requires neither protein synthesis nor activation of the p42 MAPK-p90Rsk pathway, but it is blocked by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. A role for the endogenous Xp38gamma in progesterone-induced maturation is supported by the inhibitory effect of kinase-dead mutants of MKK6 and Xp38gamma. Furthermore, MKK6 can rescue the inhibition of oocyte maturation by anthrax lethal factor, a protease that inactivates MAPK kinases. We also show that Xp38gamma can activate the phosphatase XCdc25C, and we identified Ser205 of XCdc25C as a major phosphorylation site for Xp38gamma. Our results indicate that phosphorylation of XCdc25C by Xp38gamma/SAPK3 is important for the meiotic G(2)/M progression of Xenopus oocytes.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalEMBO Journal
    Volume22
    Issue number21
    Pages (from-to)5746-56
    Number of pages10
    ISSN0261-4189
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2003

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