Direct mechanical communication of cellular to nuclear shapes in oocytes.

The mechanical properties of the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm are crucial for the correct and robust functioning of a cell and play a key role in understanding how mechanical signals are transferred to the nucleus. Here, we demonstrate remarkable shape mimicry between the cellular and nuclear shape of oocytes, following the externally applied deformation without direct contact between the cell cortex and the nucleus. This effect arises from a surprisingly soft and fluid-like nucleoplasm that barely resists external strain, while the viscoelastic cytoplasm drives shape transmission.

Protein Storage in Oocytes: Implications for Oocyte Quality, Embryonic Development, and Female Fertility.

Maternal storage is a fundamental feature of female gametes and is essential for maintaining oocyte quality and preserving developmental competence. Embryonic development relies on maternally deposited proteins, transcripts, and nutrients, yet the mechanisms by which oocytes accumulate and store these critical factors-particularly proteins-remain poorly understood. Across eukaryotes, diverse protein storage strategies have evolved, reflecting both conserved and species-specific adaptations.

Mammalian oocytes store proteins for the early embryo on cytoplasmic lattices.

Mammalian oocytes are filled with poorly understood structures called cytoplasmic lattices. First discovered in the 1960s and speculated to correspond to mammalian yolk, ribosomal arrays, or intermediate filaments, their function has remained enigmatic to date. Here, we show that cytoplasmic lattices are sites where oocytes store essential proteins for early embryonic development.