The Subcortical Maternal Complex Modulates the Cell Cycle During Early Mammalian Embryogenesis Via 14-3-3

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2024 Oct 15

PMID 39406751

Authors

Zhuo Han

Rui Wang

Pengliang Chi

Zihan Zhang

Ling Min

Haizhan Jiao

Guojin Ou

Dan Zhou

Dandan Qin

Chengpeng Xu

Zheng Gao

Qianqian Qi

Jialu Li

Yuechao Lu

Xiang Wang

Jing Chen

Xingjiang Yu

Hongli Hu

Lei Li

Dong Deng

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The subcortical maternal complex (SCMC) is essential for safeguarding female fertility in mammals. Assembled in oocytes, the SCMC maintains the cleavage of early embryos, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report that 14-3-3, a multifunctional protein, is a component of the SCMC. By resolving the structure of the 14-3-3-containing SCMC, we discover that phosphorylation of TLE6 contributes to the recruitment of 14-3-3. Mechanistically, during maternal-to-embryo transition, the SCMC stabilizes 14-3-3 protein and contributes to the proper control of CDC25B, thus ensuring the activation of the maturation-promoting factor and mitotic entry in mouse zygotes. Notably, the SCMC establishes a conserved molecular link with 14-3-3 and CDC25B in human oocytes/embryos. This study discloses the molecular mechanism through which the SCMC regulates the cell cycle in early embryos and elucidates the function of the SCMC in mammalian early embryogenesis.

Citing Articles

Subcortical Maternal Complex in Female Infertility: A Transition from Animal Models to Human Studies.

Hassan S, Ashraf N, Hanif K, Khan N Mol Biol Rep. 2025; 52(1):108.

PMID: 39775990 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-025-10220-z.

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