# US 8,772,029 B2 · Modulation of oocyte meiotic progression and oocyte activation

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- Number: US 8,772,029 B2
- Document ID: US8772029B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/548,326
- Filed: 2012-07-13
- Published: 2013-01-17
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-15
- Assignees: Northwestern University
- Applicants: Teresa K. Woodruff; Thomas V. O'Halloran; Miranda L. Bernhardt; Betty Y. Kong; Alison M. Kim
- Inventors: Teresa K. Woodruff; Thomas V. O'Halloran; Miranda L. Bernhardt; Betty Y. Kong; Alison M. Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772029B2

## CPC

- C12N 5/0609: {Oocytes, oogonia (fertilised oocytes C12N5/0604)}
- C12N 15/873: Techniques for producing new embryos, e.g. nuclear transfer, manipulation of totipotent cells or production of chimeric embryos
- A01K 2207/05: Animals modified by non-integrating nucleic acids, e.g. antisense, RNAi, morpholino, episomal vector, for non-therapeutic purpose
- C12N 2500/22: Zinc; Zn chelators
- C12N 2501/01: Modulators of cAMP or cGMP, e.g. non-hydrolysable analogs, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, cholera toxin
- C12N 2501/11: Epidermal growth factor [EGF]
- C12N 2501/31: Pituitary sex hormones, e.g. follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinising hormone [LH]; Chorionic gonadotropins
- C12N 2517/10: Conditioning of cells for in vitro fecondation or nuclear transfer
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS

## Abstract

The present invention provides methods, compositions, and systems for reinitiating meiosis in cells in meiotic arrest and oocyte activation in fertilized, but un-activated, oocytes. In certain embodiments, Zn-binding moieties (e.g., zinc chelators) are used for reinitiating meiosis or oocyte activation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising: treating a cell in meiotic arrest with a Zn-binding moiety such that meiosis is resumed, and contacting said cell with zinc replete medium such that said cell progresses from metaphase I (MI) to metaphase II (MII).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said Zn-binding moiety is configured to coordinate one or more Zn ions.

### Claim 3

A method comprising: treating a fertilized, but un-activated, oocyte with a Zn-binding moiety such that oocyte activation occurs, and contacting said oocyte with zinc replete medium such that said oocyte progresses from metaphase I (MI) to metaphase II (MII).

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein said oocyte is un-activated due to lack of sperm PLC activity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein said oocyte is fertilized by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) methods.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein said oocyte is fertilized by cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein said Zn-binding moiety is configured to coordinate one or more Zn ions.