Either cyclin B1 or B2 is necessary and sufficient for inducing germinal vesicle breakdown during frog (Rana japonica) oocyte maturation.

Oocyte maturation is finally triggered by the maturation-promoting factor (MPF), which consists of Cdc2 and cyclin B. We have cloned cDNAs encoding frog (Rana japonica) cyclins B1 and B2 and produced antibodies against their products. Using the antibodies, we investigated changes in protein states and levels of Cdc2 and cyclins B1 and B2 during oocyte maturation. In immature oocytes, all Cdc2 was a monomeric unphosphorylated inactive 35 kDa form and neither cyclin B1 nor cyclin B2 was present. Mature oocytes contained the MPF complex consisting of an active 34 kDa Cdc2 phosphorylated on threonine161 and a 49 kDa cyclin B1 or a 51 kDa cyclin B2. After progesterone stimulation, both cyclins B1 and B2 were synthesized from their stored mRNAs and bound to the preexisting 35 kDa Cdc2. The binding of Cdc2 with cyclin B and its activation probably through the phosphorylation on threonine161 occurred at almost the same time, in accordance with an electrophoretic mobility shift of Cdc2 from 35 to 34 kDa. Microinjection into immature oocytes of cyclin B1 or B2 mRNA alone, or a mixture of them, induced germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) with similar dose-dependence. When the translation of endogenous mRNAs of both cyclins B1 and B2 was inhibited with antisense RNAs, progesterone failed to induce GVBD in the oocytes, but the inhibition of only one of the two was unable to inhibit the progesterone-induced GVBD. These results indicate that either cyclin B1 or B2 is necessary and sufficient for inducing GVBD during Rana oocyte maturation.