據(jù)5月15日的《科學(xué)》雜志報(bào)道說(shuō),，研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)了可有助啟動(dòng)雌性小鼠卵巢內(nèi)排卵過(guò)程的一對(duì)酶,。 這些發(fā)現(xiàn)可能對(duì)研發(fā)不孕癥的新的治療方法非常重要,，盡管人們首先必須作更多的研究以了解干擾這些酶的功能會(huì)對(duì)其它類型的組織造成怎樣的影響,。
在雌性的哺乳動(dòng)物中,，其腦垂體會(huì)釋放出黃體生成素的每月一次的高峰,。這些黃體生成素會(huì)與那些準(zhǔn)備排卵的卵泡顆粒細(xì)胞結(jié)合,。 研究人員仍然在試圖解析接著發(fā)生的那些導(dǎo)致排卵（或在某些情況下沒(méi)有排卵）的分子信號(hào)級(jí)聯(lián)反應(yīng),。 Heng-Yu Fan及其同僚現(xiàn)在證明，激酶ERK1和ERK2是該激素信號(hào)的至關(guān)重要的下游標(biāo)靶,。 在那些顆粒細(xì)胞中缺乏這些酶的雌性小鼠中,，其卵母細(xì)胞不會(huì)成熟，因而不會(huì)從它們的濾泡中釋放出來(lái),。 同樣地,，用激素刺激過(guò)的濾泡不會(huì)轉(zhuǎn)變成為“黃體”（即在濾泡從其卵巢中釋放出卵母細(xì)胞之后通常會(huì)形成的組織）。
研究人員報(bào)告說(shuō),，ERK1 和ERK2本身看來(lái)會(huì)將一個(gè)叫做CEBPbeta的轉(zhuǎn)錄因子作為其標(biāo)靶,，而它們是在一個(gè)非常短暫的時(shí)間窗內(nèi)（大約為2小時(shí)）發(fā)揮其功效的。 一則相關(guān)的Perspective文章指出,，這些發(fā)現(xiàn)可以幫助闡明人類的諸如多發(fā)性卵巢囊腫等卵巢疾病的發(fā)病機(jī)制,，這是女性不孕癥的一種常見(jiàn)原因。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Science 15 May 2009: DOI: 10.1126/science.1171396
MAPK3/1 (ERK1/2) in Ovarian Granulosa Cells Are Essential for Female Fertility
Heng-Yu Fan,1 Zhilin Liu,1 Masayuki Shimada,2 Esta Sterneck,3 Peter F. Johnson,4 Stephen M. Hedrick,5 JoAnne S. Richards1,*
A surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland triggers ovulation, oocyte maturation, and luteinization for successful reproduction in mammals. Because the signaling molecules RAS and ERK1/2 (extracellular signal–regulated kinases 1 and 2) are activated by an LH surge in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles, we disrupted Erk1/2 in mouse granulosa cells and provide in vivo evidence that these kinases are necessary for LH-induced oocyte resumption of meiosis, ovulation, and luteinization. In addition, biochemical analyses and selected disruption of the Cebpb gene in granulosa cells demonstrate that C/EBPβ (CCAAT/Enhancer-binding protein–β) is a critical downstream mediator of ERK1/2 activation. Thus, ERK1/2 and C/EBPβ constitute an in vivo LH-regulated signaling pathway that controls ovulation- and luteinization-related events.
1 Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
2 Department of Applied Animal Science, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8528, Japan.
3 Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute–Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702–1201, USA.
4 Basic Research Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute–Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702–1201, USA.
5 Molecular Biology Section, Division of Biological, Sciences and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
