Oocyte Biology and Cellular Dormancy

Oocytes, the cells that become eggs, are highly specialized cells. They ensure the continuity of species by providing the female genome along with the cytoplasm and its organelles required for the growth of the oocyte, and after fertilization, the growing embryo. Oocytes are remarkably long-lived cells; in humans, they can live up to 60 years. Upon fertilization, these decade-old cells have the capacity to give rise to a brand-new organism.

Our long-term goal is to reveal the mechanisms dormant oocytes employ to remain viable and retain a healthy cytoplasm while other cells age and die.

Many basic features of oocyte biology are virtually untouched in the literature so our lab initially focuses on three interlinked directions to achieve our goal to understand oocyte dormancy:

1.     How is cytoplasm organized in dormant oocytes?

2.     How do oocytes achieve proteostasis?

3.     What is the metabolic nature of organelles in oocytes?

We use oocytes from two vertebrate species, frogs and mice, which are complementary for their ease of handling and relationship to human physiology. We also collaborate with a local IVF Clinic, Eugin, and Hospital Clinic in Barcelona to have access to human samples.

Our research has implications both for the structure and function of vertebrate organelles, and the regulation of physiological amyloid-like structures. More generally,

it opens up new avenues into the mechanisms that protect organelles from ageing and how oocytes stay dormant for many decades. Thus, our research is inherently linked to female fertility.

Woodruff JB, Hyman AA, Boke E.
“Organization and Function of Non-Dynamic Biomolecular Condensates.”
Trends Biochem Sci, 43 (2):81-94, 2018. DOI: [doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2017.11.005]