PMID:12447394

Citation	Leader, B, Lim, H, Carabatsos, MJ, Harrington, A, Ecsedy, J, Pellman, D, Maas, R and Leder, P (2002) Formin-2, polyploidy, hypofertility and positioning of the meiotic spindle in mouse oocytes. Nat. Cell Biol. 4:921-8
Abstract	Successful reproduction in mammals requires a competent egg, which is formed during meiosis through two assymetrical cell divisions. Here, we show that a recently identified formin homology (FH) gene, formin-2 (Fmn2), is a maternal-effect gene that is expressed in oocytes and is required for progression through metaphase of meiosis I. Fmn2(-/-) oocytes cannot correctly position the metaphase spindle during meiosis I and form the first polar body. We demonstrate that Fmn2 is required for microtubule-independent chromatin positioning during metaphase I. Fertilization of Fmn2(-/-) oocytes results in polyploid embryo formation, recurrent pregnancy loss and sub-fertility in Fmn2(-/-) females. Injection of Fmn2 mRNA into Fmn2-deficient oocytes rescues the metaphase I block. Given that errors in meiotic maturation result in severe birth defects and are the most common cause of chromosomal aneuploidy and pregnancy loss in humans, studies of Fmn2 may provide a better understanding of infertility and birth defects.
Links	PubMed Online version:10.1038/ncb880
Keywords	Animals; Cell Differentiation/genetics; Female; Fertility/genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology; Meiosis/genetics; Meiosis/physiology; Mice; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins/physiology; Oocytes/cytology; Oocytes/physiology; Polyploidy
edit table

Annotations

Gene product	Qualifier	GO ID	GO term name	Evidence Code	with/from	Aspect	Notes	Status
edit table

References

See Help:References for how to manage references in GONUTS.