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Endoplasmic reticulum in oocytes: spatiotemporal distribution and function

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Abstract 

Endoplasmic reticulum in oocytes

The storage and release of calcium ions (Ca2 +) in oocyte maturation and fertilization are particularly noteworthy features of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER is the largest organelle in the cell composed of rough ER, smooth ER, and nuclear envelope, and is the main site of protein synthesis, transport and folding, and lipid and steroid synthesis. An appropriate calcium signaling response can initiate oocyte development and embryogenesis, and the ER is the central link that initiates calcium signaling. The transition from immature oocytes to zygotes also requires many coordinated organelle reorganizations and changes. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to generalize information on the function, structure, interaction with other organelles, and spatiotemporal localization of the ER in mammalian oocytes. Mechanisms related to maintaining ER homeostasis have been extensively studied in recent years. Resolving ER stress through the unfolded protein response (UPR) is one of them. We combined the clinical problems caused by the ER in in vitro maturation (IVM), and the mechanisms of ER have been identified by single-cell RNA-seq. This article systematically reviews the functions of ER and provides a reference for assisted reproductive technology (ART) research.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Yanxiang Zhao for her excellent beautification of figure.

Funding

This work was funded by the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission (Z191100006619075, Z191100006619073) , Project funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2021M690257) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (82201828, 82125013, 31871447 and 31871482).

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Author notes

  1. Xin Kang and Jing Wang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China

    Xin Kang, Jing Wang & Liying Yan

  2. National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing, 100191, China

    Xin Kang, Jing Wang & Liying Yan

  3. Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China

    Xin Kang & Jing Wang

  4. Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, 100191, China

    Xin Kang & Jing Wang

  5. Research Units of Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment of Oocyte Maturation Arrest, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100191, China

    Xin Kang & Jing Wang

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  1. Xin Kang
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Xin Kang and Jing Wang performed the literature search and wrote the manuscript and prepared the figure. LiyingYan revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Liying Yan.

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Kang, X., Wang, J. & Yan, L. Endoplasmic reticulum in oocytes: spatiotemporal distribution and function. J Assist Reprod Genet 40, 1255–1263 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-023-02782-3

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