PLK1 regulates spindle association of phosphorylated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein and spindle function in mouse oocytes.

Oocyte meiotic spindles are associated with spindle-enriched mRNAs, phosphorylated ribosome protein S6, and phosphorylated variants of the key translational regulator, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (eIF4E-BP1), consistent with translational control of localized mRNAs by eIF4E-BP1 in facilitating spindle formation and stability. Using specific kinase inhibitors, we determined which kinases regulate phosphorylation status of eIF4E-BP1 associated with meiotic spindles in mouse oocytes and effects of kinase inhibition on chromosome congression and spindle formation. Neither ataxia telangiectasia-mutated kinase nor mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibition significantly affected phosphorylation status of spindle-associated eIF4E-BP1 at the phosphorylation sites examined. Spindle-associated phospho-eIF4E-BP1, spindle formation, and chromosome congression were strongly disrupted by polo-like kinase I (PLK1) inhibition at both metaphase I (MI) and MII. In addition, direct inhibition of eIF4E-BP1 via 4EGI led to spindle defects at MI, indicating a direct role for eIF4E-BP1 phosphorylation in meiotic spindle formation. PLK1 also regulated microtubule dynamics throughout the ooplasm, indicating likely coordination between spindle dynamics and broader ooplasm cytoskeletal dynamics. Because diverse upstream signaling pathways converge on PLK1, these results implicate PLK1 as a major regulatory nexus coupling endogenous and exogenous signals via eIF4E-BP1 to the regulation of spindle formation and stability.