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© The Rockefeller University Press, 0021-9525/1999//1 $5.00
The Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 146, Number 1, , 1999 1-12

Kinetochore Fibers Are Not Involved in the Formation of the First Meiotic Spindle in Mouse Oocytes, but Control the Exit from the First Meiotic M Phase

^a Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire du Développement, Université Paris 6, Paris, France
^b Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris 6, Université Paris 7, Paris, France
Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire du Développement, UMR 7622, CNRS, Université Paris 6, 9 quai St. Bernard, 75005 Paris, France.33-1-4427-341033-1-4427-3498

maro{at}ccr.jussieu.fr

During meiosis, two successive divisions occur without any intermediate S phase to produce haploid gametes. The first meiotic division is unique in that homologous chromosomes are segregated while the cohesion between sister chromatids is maintained, resulting in a reductional division. Moreover, the duration of the first meiotic M phase is usually prolonged when compared with mitotic M phases lasting 8 h in mouse oocytes.

We investigated the spindle assembly pathway and its role in the progression of the first meiotic M phase in mouse oocytes. During the first 4 h, a bipolar spindle forms and the chromosomes congress near the equatorial plane of the spindle without stable kinetochore– microtubule end interactions. This late prometaphase spindle is then maintained for 4 h with chromosomes oscillating in the central region of the spindle. The kinetochore–microtubule end interactions are set up at the end of the first meiotic M phase (8 h after entry into M phase). This event allows the final alignment of the chromosomes and exit from metaphase. The continuous presence of the prometaphase spindle is not required for progression of the first meiotic M phase. Finally, the ability of kinetochores to interact with microtubules is acquired at the end of the first meiotic M phase and determines the timing of polar body extrusion.

Key Words: meiosis • microtubule • kinetochore • chromosome • spindle assembly checkpoint

© 1999 The Rockefeller University Press

Stéphane Brunet's present address is Cell Biology and Biophysics Programme, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany; Denis Dujardin's present address is University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; and Jacek Kubiak's present address is Biologie et Génétique du Développement, UPR 41, CNRS, Rennes, France.

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Homer, H., Gui, L., Carroll, J. (2009). A Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Protein Functions in Prophase I Arrest and Prometaphase Progression. Science 326: 991-994 [Abstract] [Full Text]  

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