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A nickel-binding serpin, pNiXa, induces maturation of Xenopus oocytes and shows synergism with oncogenic ras-p21 protein.

A nickel-binding serine proteinase inhibitor, pNiXa (43 kDa), was isolated from Xenopus ovary and assayed for effects on oocyte maturation. Microinjection of pNiXa (0.12 pmol/50 nl) induced maturation in 60% of Xenopus oocytes, beginning at 4 hours and reaching completion by 9 hours. Microinjection of oncogenic ras-p21 protein (0.12 pmol/50 nl) induced maturation in 79% of oocytes, beginning at 6 hours and reaching completion by 12 hours. Microinjection of pNiXa in combination with ras-p21 protein had a synergistic effect on maturation, which occurred in 92% of oocytes, beginning at 4 hours and reaching completion by 9 hours. Oocyte maturation did not occur in control oocytes, which received a microinjection of bovine serum albumin. In oocytes exposed to a combination of pNiXa (0.12 pmol/50 nl, by microinjection) and progesterone (10 micrograms/ml, in the medium), maturation was intermediate (68% at 9 hours) between that induced by pNiXa (60%) or progesterone (85%) alone. This study shows (a) that pNiXa is a potent inducer of oocyte maturation, (b) that pNiXa's effect is synergistic with that of oncogenic ras-p21 protein, and (c) that pNiXa partially antagonizes progesterone induction of oocyte maturation.