Expression and Regulatory Roles of SKAP2 and Cortactin in Mouse Ovarian Tissue and Oocyte Maturation.

Oocyte maturation is a critical phase in mammalian reproduction. Src kinase-associated phosphoprotein 2 (SKAP2) and cortactin, both cytoskeletal regulatory proteins that play pivotal roles in cell motility and signal transduction. However, their specific functions and mechanisms during oocyte maturation are currently unknown. This study revealed the roles of SKAP2 and cortactin in the oocyte maturation process. To investigate the distribution, activity, and functional significance of SKAP2 during murine oocyte asymmetric division, ovarian tissues were infected with lentiviruses expressing SKAP2 and cortactin shRNA. Cell morphology was analyzed to assess the expression and distribution of cyclins, SKAP2, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family member 2 (WAVE2), and cortactin. Additionally, the levels of SKAP2, Cyclin A, Cyclin B, Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), and Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) were quantified using qPCR and western blotting. SKAP2 was highly expressed in ovarian tissues and oocytes. Knockdown of SKAP2 significantly impaired oocyte maturation and altered the expression of key cell cycle proteins. SKAP2 regulates oocyte maturation and division by modulating cell cycle proteins and interacting with WAVE2 and cortactin. SKAP2 and cortactin are important in the regulatory mechanisms of oocyte maturation, these findings offer potential targets and strategies for advancing reproductive technologies and treating reproductive disorders.