Aven is dynamically regulated during Xenopus oocyte maturation and is required for oocyte survival

We have analyzed the expression and function of the cell death and cell cycle regulator Aven in Xenopus. Analysis of Xenopus Aven expression in oocytes and embryos revealed a band close to the predicted molecular weight of the protein (36 kDa) in addition to two bands of higher molecular weight (46 and 49 kDa), one of which was determined to be due to phosphorylation of the protein. The protein is primarily detected in the cytoplasm of oocytes and is tightly regulated during meiotic and mitotic cell cycles. Progesterone stimulation of oocytes resulted in a rapid loss of Aven expression with the protein levels recovering before germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). This loss of Aven is required for the G2–M1 cell cycle transition. Aven morpholino knockdown experiments revealed that early depletion of the protein increases progesterone sensitivity and facilitates GVBD, but prolonged depletion of Aven results in caspase-3 activation and oocyte death by apoptosis. Phosphorylated Aven (46 kDa) was found to bind Bcl-x(L) in oocytes, but this interaction was lost in apoptotic oocytes. Thus, Aven alters progesterone sensitivity in oocytes and is critical for oocyte survival.