A transient RNP compartment boosts translation and growth of mammalian oocytes
Abstract
Mammalian oocytes undergo an extended growth phase, during which transcription gradually declines. To sustain meiotic divisions and early embryonic development, growing oocytes must accumulate maternal stores and tightly regulate translation. Using immunofluorescence, mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, RNA sequencing, and live ex vivo ovarian tissue–slice imaging, we identified a transient ribonucleoprotein-organelle compartment in growing mouse oocytes, which we named the Zollo body. Although it resembles the Balbiani body observed in nongrowing oocytes of many vertebrate species, the Zollo body arises during growth and shows nascent translation and phospho-mTOR enrichment. Pharmacological dissolution of the Zollo body arrests follicle and oocyte growth in cultured ovarian tissue slices. Thus, the Zollo body is a transient, translation-associated compartment required for normal follicle and oocyte growth.
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BibTeX
@article{zollo2026transient,
title = {{A transient RNP compartment boosts translation and growth of mammalian oocytes}},
author = {Noemi Zollo and Gabriele Zaffagnini and Ali Haidar and Alexis Canette and Gaëlle Letort and Christelle da Silva and Elsa Labrune and Nicolas Tessandier and Julien Dumont and Corinne Blugeon and Benoit Wattellier and Elvan Böke and Christopher Thomas and Maria Almonacid and Marie-Hélène Verlhac},
journal = {Science Advances},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.aej5359},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05828648v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A transient RNP compartment boosts translation and growth of mammalian oocytes
AU - Noemi Zollo
AU - Gabriele Zaffagnini
AU - Ali Haidar
AU - Alexis Canette
AU - Gaëlle Letort
AU - Christelle da Silva
AU - Elsa Labrune
AU - Nicolas Tessandier
AU - Julien Dumont
AU - Corinne Blugeon
AU - Benoit Wattellier
AU - Elvan Böke
AU - Christopher Thomas
AU - Maria Almonacid
AU - Marie-Hélène Verlhac
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/28
JO - Science Advances
DO - 10.1126/sciadv.aej5359
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05828648v1
AB - Mammalian oocytes undergo an extended growth phase, during which transcription gradually declines. To sustain meiotic divisions and early embryonic development, growing oocytes must accumulate maternal stores and tightly regulate translation. Using immunofluorescence, mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, RNA sequencing, and live ex vivo ovarian tissue–slice imaging, we identified a transient ribonucleoprotein-organelle compartment in growing mouse oocytes, which we named the Zollo body. Although it resembles the Balbiani body observed in nongrowing oocytes of many vertebrate species, the Zollo body arises during growth and shows nascent translation and phospho-mTOR enrichment. Pharmacological dissolution of the Zollo body arrests follicle and oocyte growth in cultured ovarian tissue slices. Thus, the Zollo body is a transient, translation-associated compartment required for normal follicle and oocyte growth.
SN - 2375-2548
ER -