High impact information on Oosp1

• Growth factors synthesized by ovarian somatic cells directly affect oocyte growth and function, but it is unclear whether oocyte-secreted factors play a reciprocal role in modulating somatic cell functions in vivo [1].
• Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) is an oocyte-secreted factor that has raised particular interest due to its established role in determining ovulation quota and female fertility in mammals [2].
• In this article, we review recent advances on the physiological, cellular and molecular roles of BMP-15 and GDF-9, which, potentially, link these oocyte-secreted factors to the species-specific determination of ovulation quota and litter size in mammals [3].
• The OOSP1 gene is located on chromosome 15 and is composed of 5 exons, which span over nearly 7.9 kb [4].
• Androgens augment the mitogenic effects of oocyte-secreted factors and growth differentiation factor 9 on porcine granulosa cells [5].

Biological context of Oosp1

• The Oosp1 cDNA encodes a 202-amino acid protein that contains a 21-amino acid signal peptide sequence, 5 putative N-linked glycosylation consensus sequences, and 6 cysteines that are predicted to form 3 disulfide bonds [6].
• The mouse Oosp1 gene is 5 exons, spans greater than 16.4 kb, and localizes to chromosome 19 at a position that shares synteny with human chromosome 11q12-11q13 [6].
• This GDF9 neutralizing antibody was then tested in an established oocyte-secreted mitogen bioassay, where denuded oocytes cocultured with granulosa cells promote cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner [7].

Anatomical context of Oosp1

• The Oosp1 mRNA is approximately 1.0 kb and is present at high levels in the oocytes of adult ovaries and at lower levels in the spleen [6].

Associations of Oosp1 with chemical compounds

• If dibutyryl cAMP replaced FSH in the cocultures, similar results were obtained, suggesting that the oocyte-secreted steroid-regulating factor acts downstream of the generation of cAMP to inhibit progesterone production [8].

Other interactions of Oosp1

• Some members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) superfamily influence these activities, yet it is still not determined conclusively whether any of these superfamily members are the previously reported oocyte-secreted factors [9].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Oosp1

• We used an established oocyte-secreted mitogen bioassay, where denuded mouse oocytes are co-cultured with mural GCs [10].

References