PAK4 is Required for Meiotic Resumption, Spindle Assembly, and Cortical Migration in Mouse Oocytes During Meiotic Maturation

Abstract Oocyte meiotic errors can cause infertility, miscarriage, and birth defects. Here the role and the underlying mechanism of p21 activated kinase 4 (PAK4) in mouse oocyte meiosis is evaluated. It is found that PAK4 expression and its phosphorylation are detected in high level at germinal vesicle (GV) stage, and gradually decreased after meiotic resumption in oocytes. PAK4 has direct physical interaction with both mitogen‐activated protein kinases 1/2 (MEK1/2) and Paxillin, they are colocalized on the spindle structure during metaphases I and II. Phospho‐PAK4 is distributed beneath the cytoplasmic membrane and on the chromosomes, and colocalized with the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) proteins, Pericentrin and γ‐tubulin, as well as phosphor‐MEK1/2 and phosphor‐Paxillin on spindle poles. PAK4 inhibition by chemical inhibitor LCH‐7749944, specific Pak4 morpholino oligo or the dominant negative mutant Pak4^{K350, 351 M} influence the meiotic resumption, spindle assembly and its cortical migration, and associated with the downregulation in the dephosphorylation of cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and the levels of Cyclin B1, MEK1/2, Paxillin, g‐tubulin, acetylated a‐tubulin, Arp3, and Cofilin phosphorylation in oocytes. In sum, PAK4 functions to sustain the rational levels of Cyclin B1, MEK1/2, Paxillin, y‐tubulin, acetylated a‐tubulin, Arp3, and phosphor‐Cofilin in mouse oocytes, thereby promotes the meiotic resumption, spindle assembly, and migration during meiotic maturation.