Induction of meiosis by injection of heterologous protein kinase and phosphorylase kinase in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Meiosis reinitiation has been triggered by injection of beef heart protein kinase or rabbit phosphorylase kinase into Xenopus laevis oocytes. Successful injections are followed by germinal vesicle breakdown, chromosome condensation, formation of a normal meiotic spindle, and appearance of an amplifiable maturation promoting factor. Meiosis reinitiation does not occur when the enzymes are introduced into the oocytes simultaneously with EGTA or after pretreatment with cycloheximide. Antipain, an antiprotease which abolishes the response of oocytes to progesterone, does not suppress the meiosis reinitiation induced by injection of protein kinase or phosphorylase kinase.