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Review
. 2022 Apr;39(4):861-871.
doi: 10.1007/s10815-022-02434-y. Epub 2022 Feb 15.

Maternal effect factors that contribute to oocytes developmental competence: an update

Federica Innocenti  1 , Giulia Fiorentino  2   3 , Danilo Cimadomo  4 , Daria Soscia  1 , Silvia Garagna  2   3 , Laura Rienzi  1 , Filippo Maria Ubaldi  1 , Maurizio Zuccotti  2   3 ; SIERR
Affiliations
Review

Maternal effect factors that contribute to oocytes developmental competence: an update

Federica Innocenti et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Oocyte developmental competence is defined as the capacity of the female gamete to be fertilized and sustain development to the blastocyst stage. Epigenetic reprogramming, a correct cell division pattern, and an efficient DNA damage response are all critical events that, before embryonic genome activation, are governed by maternally inherited factors such as maternal-effect gene (MEG) products. Although these molecules are stored inside the oocyte until ovulation and exert their main role during fertilization and preimplantation development, some of them are already functioning during folliculogenesis and oocyte meiosis resumption. This mini review summarizes the crucial roles played by MEGs during oocyte maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation development with a direct/indirect effect on the acquisition or maintenance of oocyte competence. Our aim is to inspire future research on a topic with potential clinical perspectives for the prediction and treatment of female infertility.

Keywords: Embryonic genome activation; Folliculogenesis; Maternal effect genes; Oocyte competence; Preimplantation development.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Summary of 53 maternal-effect gene (MEG) products active during oocyte growth and meiosis resumption (green box), fertilization (orange box) and early preimplantation development (blue box). The purple-shaded area represents the moment when the embryonic genome activation occurs. MEGs are grouped according to their specific function and located depending on the site where they exert their main activity. For each MEG, the lethality stage observed in experimental models is indicated with a red arrow. All the experiments were performed in the mouse, except for Spind1, whose lethality was detected in the porcine model. The absence of the red arrow indicates that the lethality stage is not yet available. GV, germinal vesicle; MII, metaphase II; FERT, fertilization; PN, pronuclei; ZYG, zygote; MOR, morula; BL, blastocyst; POST-IMP, post-implantation; COC, cumulus-oocyte complex
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