A clean start: degradation of maternal proteins at the oocyte-to-embryo transition

In many organisms, the transition from oocyte to embryo occurs in the absence of mRNA transcription. Therefore, early developmental programs rely on maternal mRNAs and proteins that are synthesized during oogenesis. The regulated translation of maternal RNAs is essential for the proper deployment of regulatory factors during early embryogenesis. Recent studies suggest that the degradation of maternal proteins by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway is also crucial for the oocyte-to-embryo transition. In this article, we explore the hypothesis that the coordinated degradation of germline proteins is essential for remodeling the oocyte into a totipotent zygote that is capable of somatic development. In many organisms, the transition from oocyte to embryo occurs in the absence of mRNA transcription. Therefore, early developmental programs rely on maternal mRNAs and proteins that are synthesized during oogenesis. The regulated translation of maternal RNAs is essential for the proper deployment of regulatory factors during early embryogenesis. Recent studies suggest that the degradation of maternal proteins by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway is also crucial for the oocyte-to-embryo transition. In this article, we explore the hypothesis that the coordinated degradation of germline proteins is essential for remodeling the oocyte into a totipotent zygote that is capable of somatic development.