Oocyte meiotic maturation and early embryogenesis occur in the absence of transcription and rely on maternal mRNA stored in oocytes. Thus, the exact mechanism for how the maternal mRNA in oocytes maintains their long-term stability remains unclear. In this study, we report that maternal mRNA incorporated with Y-Box Binding Protein 2 (YBX2) forms a reversible sponge-like cortical partition (SLCP) in mammalian oocytes, which might explain the extraordinary ability of oocytes to store and protect mRNA. We have demonstrated that maternal mRNA is incorporated with YBX2 in the form of a reversible SLCP, and this indicates the essential role of the SLCP in mRNA storage in mouse and human oocytes. These findings suggest a mechanism for maintaining the stability of maternal mRNA in mammalian oocytes.

     Title: YBX2-dependent stabilization of oocyte mRNA through a reversible sponge-like cortical partition

  Links: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41422-023-00824-0