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Cell Cycle in Ascidian Eggs and Embryos

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Cell Cycle in Development

Part of the book series: Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation ((RESULTS))

Abstract

In ascidians the cell cycle machinery has been studied mainly in oocytes while ascidian embryos have been used to dissect the mechanism that controls asymmetric cell division (ACD). Here we overview the most specific and often exceptional points and events in cell cycle control in ascidian oocytes and early embryos. Mature stage IV eggs are arrested at metaphase I due to cytostatic factor (CSF). In vertebrates, unfertilized eggs are arrested at metaphase II by CSF. Meta II-CSF is mediated by the Mos/MEK/MAPK/Erp1 pathway, which inhibits the ubiquitin ligase APC/Ccdc20 preventing cyclin B destruction thus stabilizing MPF activity. CSF is inactivated by the fertilization Ca2+ transient that stimulates the destruction of Erp1 thus releasing APC/Ccdc20 from inhibition. Although many of the components of CSF are conserved between the ascidian and the vertebrates, the lack of Erp1 in the ascidians (and indeed other invertebrates) is notable since the Mos/MAPK pathway nonetheless mediates Meta I-CSF. Moreover, since the fertilization Ca2+ transient targets Erp1, it is not clear how the sperm-triggered Ca2+ transient in ascidians (and again other invertebrates) stimulates cyclin B destruction in the absence of Erp1. Nonetheless, like mammalian eggs, sperm trigger a series of Ca2+ oscillations that increases the rate of cyclin B destruction and the subsequent loss of MAPK activity leading to meiotic exit in ascidians. Positive feedback from MPF maintains the Ca2+ oscillations in fertilized ascidian eggs ensuring the eventual loss of MPF stimulating the egg-to-embryo transition. Embryonic cell cycles in the ascidian are highly stereotyped where both the rate of cell division and the orientation of cell division planes are precisely controlled. Three successive rounds of ACD generate two small posterior germ cell precursors at the 64 cell stage. The centrosome-attracting body (CAB) is a macroscopic cortical structure visible by light microscopy that causes these three rounds of ACD. Entry into mitosis activates the CAB causing the whole mitotic spindle to rotate and migrate toward the cortical CAB leading to a highly ACD whereby one small cell is formed that inherits the CAB and approximately 40 maternal postplasmic/PEM RNAs including the germ cell marker vasa.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the ANR (08-BLAN-0136-02), ARC, and ATIP for financial support. We would also like to thank Patrick Chang and Mark Levasseur for helpful comments.

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  1. Developmental Biology Unit UMR 7009, UMPC Univ. Paris 06 and Center National de la Recherche (CNRS), Observatoire Océanologique, 06230, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

    Alex McDougall, Janet Chenevert, Karen W. Lee, Celine Hebras & Remi Dumollard

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  2. Janet Chenevert
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Correspondence to Alex McDougall or Remi Dumollard .

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  1. CNRS UMR 6061, Fac. Médecine, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes CX, 35043, France

    Jacek Z. Kubiak

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McDougall, A., Chenevert, J., Lee, K.W., Hebras, C., Dumollard, R. (2011). Cell Cycle in Ascidian Eggs and Embryos. In: Kubiak, J. (eds) Cell Cycle in Development. Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19065-0_8

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