Temporal patterns of gene expression of G1-S cyclins and cdks during the first and second mitotic cell cycles in mouse embryos

Cell‐cycle progression in somatic cells is regulated by a family of cyclins and cyclin‐dependent kinases (cdks) that form specific complexes as a function of cell‐cycle progression. However, the transcript abundance of G1‐S cyclins and cdks during the meiotic and mitotic cell cycles of mammalian embryos has not been previously reported. Using a reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that detects changes in either mRNA abundance or polyadenylation state, we examined the relative levels of gene expression for the G1‐S cyclins and cdks, as well as for p21, p27, and the retinoblastoma (Rb) gene in mouse oocytes, metaphase II‐arrested eggs, and 1–2‐cell embryos. The PCR products for cyclins D1, D3, and A, as well as cdk4, p21, and Rb, displayed similar levels in meiotically incompetent and competent oocytes, as well as in metaphase II‐arrested eggs. The levels of PCR products for cyclin D2, p27, and two forms of cdk2 were similar in meiotically incompetent and competent oocytes but decreased during oocyte maturation. Finally, the level of PCR products for cyclin E and cdk2 gradually decreased during the progression from meiotically incompetent oocytes to metaphase II‐arrested eggs. When the levels of PCR products for the G1‐S regulatory genes were evaluated during the first and second mitotic cell cycles, four main patterns were found: 1) steady levels for cyclin A; 2) steady levels followed by a 2–3‐fold increase during the G2 phase of the second mitotic cell cycle for cyclins D1, E, cdk2, and p21; 3) a transient increase during the S and/or G2 phases of the first mitotic cell cycle for p27, cyclin D3, and the two forms of cdk2; and 4) higher levels during the first cell cycle and then a decrease with lower levels during the second mitotic cell cycle for cyclin D2 and Rb. cdk4 expression displayed a combination of patterns 2 and 3. The increase in the amount of PCR product for the cdk4 gene during the first mitotic cell cycle was due to polyadenylation, whereas the increase in the amount of PCR product for cdk4, cdk2, and cyclins D1 and E in the second mitotic cell cycle was a product of activation of the embryonic genome. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.