Role of the MAPK cascade in mammalian germ cells

Q. Y. Sun, H. Breitbart, H. Schatten

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is one of the most important of the intracellular signaling pathways that play a crucial role in cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cell cycle regulation. Since the first report in 1993 of MAPK's involvement in the functional regulation of mammalian oocytes, much work has been done on the role of the MAPK cascade in germ cells in different species of mammals. This review describes the possible involvement of the MOS/MEK/MAPK/RSK cascade in spermatogenesis, sperm function, oocyte meiotic re-initiation, spindle assembly, metaphase II arrest, pronuclear formation and the entry of first mitosis, as well as the cross-talk of this cascade to maturation-promoting factor (MPF) and other signal molecules in mammals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)443-450
Number of pages8
JournalReproduction, Fertility and Development
Volume11
Issue number7-8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Fertilization
  • MOS
  • Meiosis
  • Oocyte maturation
  • Protein kinase C (PKC)

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