6.
Ptk2b has been found playing critical roles in oocyte maturation and subsequent fertilization in vitro. But what is the exact in vivo function in reproduction still elusive. Here, by constructing
Ptk2b mutant mice, we found
Ptk2b was not essential for mice fertility, unexpectedly, contrary to previously reported in vitro findings, we found
Ptk2b ablation significantly improved female fecundity. Follicle counting indicated that the number of primordial follicles and growing follicles in matured mice was significantly increased in the absence of
Ptk2b, whereas the primordial follicle formation showed no defects. We also found this regulation was in an autophosphorylation independent pathway, as autophosphorylation site mutant mice (PTK2B
Y402F) show no phenotype in female fertility. Further biochemistry studies revealed that
Ptk2b ablation promotes folliculogenesis via Erk pathway mediate follicle survival. Together, we found a novel biological function of
Ptk2b in folliculogenesis, which could be potentially used as a therapeutic target for corresponding infertility.
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