Regulation of YAP1 during oocyte maturation

CONTEXT: Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) plays essential roles in somatic cell proliferation and differentiation and is regulated by cell cycle proteins and mechanical cues transduced by the actin cytoskeleton. YAP1 has been localized to the mitotic spindle. Whether YAP1 may participate in oocyte maturation is not known. AIMS: Determine effect of YAP inhibitor on oocyte maturation and the potential involvement of cell cycle regulators and actin polymerization modulators on YAP localization and phosphorylation status during oocyte maturation. METHODS: Mouse oocytes were cultured in vitro alone or in the presence of various small molecule inhibitors blocking YAP1, cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), phosphatase protein 2 A (PP2A), actin polymerization and the resulting effects on maturation, YAP localization by immunocytochemistry and/or YAP phosphorylation by western blot were determined. KEY RESULTS: Blocking YAP1 activity with verteporfin hampers oocyte maturation, arresting the majority of oocytes at metaphase I (MI), with a distorted spindle structure. Moreover, YAP1 localized to the meiotic spindle and is phosphorylated on T119 beginning at metaphase I, which is regulated in part by PP2A phosphatase but is not strongly affected by CDK1 inhibitors (RO-3306). The increase in YAP1 phosphorylated on T119 (pYAP1) at MI mirrors the rise in CDK1 activity, suggesting an association between CDK1, pYAP1-T119 and PP2A. CONCLUSIONS: The results link pYAP1-T119 with cell cycle regulators CDK1, PP2A, and the meiotic spindle, but not with changes in actin polymerization. These findings suggest a previously unknown role of YAP1 in regulating meiotic spindle shape during oocyte maturation. IMPLICATIONS: Modulation of YAP1 activity during oocyte maturation may allow for better in vitro maturation procedures to be developed.