Formation of primordial follicles is a fundamental, early process in mammalian oogenesis. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. We herein report that the RNA-binding proteins ELAVL2 and DDX6 are indispensable for the formation of quiescent primordial follicles in mouse ovaries. We show that Elavl2 knockout females are infertile due to defective primordial follicle formation. ELAVL2 associates with mRNAs encoding components of P-bodies (cytoplasmic RNP granules involved in the decay and storage of RNA) and directs the assembly of P-body-like granules by promoting the translation of DDX6 in oocytes prior to the formation of primordial follicles. Deletion of Ddx6 disturbs the assembly of P-body-like granules and severely impairs the formation of primordial follicles, indicating the potential importance of P-body-like granules in the formation of primordial follicles. Furthermore, Ddx6-deficient oocytes are abnormally enlarged due to misregulated PI3K-AKT signaling. Our data reveal that an ELAVL2-directed post-transcriptional network is essential for the formation of quiescent primordial follicles.

中文翻译：

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ELAVL2指导的RNA调节网络驱动静态原始卵泡的形成。

原始卵泡的形成是哺乳动物卵子发生的基本的早期过程。但是，对于底层机制知之甚少。我们在此报告，RNA结合蛋白ELAVL2和DDX6对于小鼠卵巢中静止的原始卵泡的形成是必不可少的。我们显示，由于缺陷的原始卵泡形成，Elavl2基因敲除的女性是不育的。ELAVL2与编码P体（参与RNA衰变和储存的胞质RNP颗粒）的成分的mRNA关联，并通过在原始卵泡形成之前促进DDX6在卵母细胞中的翻译来指导P体样颗粒的组装。Ddx6的缺失会干扰P体状颗粒的组装，并严重损害原始卵泡的形成，表明P体状颗粒在原始卵泡形成中的潜在重要性。此外，由于PI3K-AKT信号调节失调，缺乏Ddx6的卵母细胞异常增大。我们的数据表明，ELAVL2定向的转录后网络对于静态原始卵泡的形成至关重要。