Oocyte Biology & Cellular Dormancy

Oocytes, female germ cells that become eggs, are highly specialized cells. They ensure the continuity of species by providing the female genome and mitochondria along with most of the nutrients and housekeeping machinery the early embryo needs after fertilisation. Oocytes are remarkable in their ability to survive for long periods of time, up to 50 years in humans, and retain the ability to give rise to a young organism while other cells age and die. A key feature of dormant oocytes of virtually all vertebrates is the presence of a Balbiani body, which is a non-membrane bound compartment that contains most of the organelles in dormant oocytes and disappears as the oocyte matures.

Our long-term goal is to reveal the mechanisms dormant oocytes employ to remain viable. We are currently working on three interlinked directions which focus on how organelles are organized, how their metabolism is regulated, and how protein homeostasis is maintained in oocytes.

• How does the Balbiani body disassemble and release the complement of organelles when oocytes start to mature?
• What is the metabolic nature of organelles in dormant oocytes?
• What is the structure and function of the Balbiani body in mammals?
• How does the long-lived oocyte cope with protein aggregation?