Cells are equipped with a diverse network of signaling and regulatory proteins that function as cell cycle regulators and checkpoint proteins to ensure the proper progression of cell division. A key regulator of cell division is polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), a member of the serine/threonine kinase family that plays an important role in regulating the mitotic and meiotic cell cycle. The phosphorylation of specific substrates mediated by PLK1 controls nuclear envelope breakdown (NEBD), centrosome maturation, proper spindle assembly, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis. In mammalian oogenesis, PLK1 is essential for resuming meiosis before ovulation and for establishing the meiotic spindle. Among other potential roles, PLK1 regulates the localized translation of spindle-enriched mRNAs by phosphorylating and thereby inhibiting the translational repressor 4E-BP1, a downstream target of the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway. In this review, we summarize the functions of PLK1 in mitosis, meiosis, and cytokinesis and focus on the role of PLK1 in regulating mRNA translation. However, knowledge of the role of PLK1 in the regulation of meiosis remains limited.

• Keywords
• PLK1, mRNA translation, meiosis, mitosis, oocytes, polo-like kinase 1, spindle,
• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Meiosis MeSH
• Mitosis MeSH
• Polo-Like Kinase 1 MeSH
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases * metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Cycle Proteins * metabolism   MeSH
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases * MeSH
• Cell Cycle Proteins * MeSH
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins MeSH

Although the involvement of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) pathway in the regulation of cytostatic factor (CSF) activity; as well as in microtubules organization during meiotic maturation of oocytes; has already been described in detail; rather less attention has been paid to the role of ERK1/2 in the regulation of mRNA translation. However; important data on the role of ERK1/2 in translation during oocyte meiosis have been documented. This review focuses on recent findings regarding the regulation of translation and the role of ERK1/2 in this process in the meiotic cycle of mammalian oocytes. The specific role of ERK1/2 in the regulation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR); eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 1 (CPEB1) activity is addressed along with additional focus on the other key players involved in protein translation.

• Keywords
• CPEB1, ERK1/2, MAP kinase, eIF4E, mTOR, oocyte, translation,
• MeSH
• Cytoplasm genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E metabolism   MeSH
• mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors metabolism   MeSH
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Meiosis * MeSH
• RNA, Messenger genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 metabolism   MeSH
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 metabolism   MeSH
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases metabolism   MeSH
• Oocytes metabolism   MeSH
• Polyadenylation MeSH
• Protein Biosynthesis * MeSH
• Signal Transduction MeSH
• TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Binding MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E MeSH
• mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors MeSH
• RNA, Messenger MeSH
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 MeSH
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 MeSH
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases MeSH
• TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases MeSH