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Rab3A, a possible marker of cortical granules, participates in cortical granule exocytosis in mouse eggs

Daniel Bello, O; Isabel Cappa, A; De Paola, M; Natalia Zanetti, M; Fukuda, M; Fissore, RA; Mayorga, LS; (2016) Rab3A, a possible marker of cortical granules, participates in cortical granule exocytosis in mouse eggs. Experimental Cell Research , 347 (1) pp. 42-51. 10.1016/j.yexcr.2016.07.005. Green open access

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Abstract

Fusion of cortical granules with the oocyte plasma membrane is the most significant event to prevent polyspermy. This particular exocytosis, also known as cortical reaction, is regulated by calcium and its molecular mechanism is still not known. Rab3A, a member of the small GTP-binding protein superfamily, has been implicated in calcium-dependent exocytosis and is not yet clear whether Rab3A participates in cortical granules exocytosis. Here, we examine the involvement of Rab3A in the physiology of cortical granules, particularly, in their distribution during oocyte maturation and activation, and their participation in membrane fusion during cortical granule exocytosis. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis showed that Rab3A and cortical granules have a similar migration pattern during oocyte maturation, and that Rab3A is no longer detected after cortical granule exocytosis. These results suggested that Rab3A might be a marker of cortical granules. Overexpression of EGFP-Rab3A colocalized with cortical granules with a Pearson correlation coefficient of +0.967, indicating that Rab3A and cortical granules have almost a perfect colocalization in the egg cortical region. Using a functional assay, we demonstrated that microinjection of recombinant, prenylated and active GST-Rab3A triggered cortical granule exocytosis, indicating that Rab3A has an active role in this secretory pathway. To confirm this active role, we inhibited the function of endogenous Rab3A by microinjecting a polyclonal antibody raised against Rab3A prior to parthenogenetic activation. Our results showed that Rab3A antibody microinjection abolished cortical granule exocytosis in parthenogenetically activated oocytes. Altogether, our findings confirm that Rab3A might function as a marker of cortical granules and participates in cortical granule exocytosis in mouse eggs.

Type: Article
Title: Rab3A, a possible marker of cortical granules, participates in cortical granule exocytosis in mouse eggs
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2016.07.005
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexcr.2016.07.005
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Rab3A, Cortical granule exocytosis, Cortical reaction, Mouse oocyte, Mouse egg
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10073833
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