@article{20349,
  abstract     = {Oogenesis – the formation and development of an oocyte – is fundamental to reproduction and embryonic development. Due to its accessibility to genetic manipulations and the ability to culture and experimentally manipulate oocytes ex vivo, zebrafish has emerged as a powerful vertebrate model system for studying oogenesis. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of zebrafish oogenesis, from early germ cell formation to oocyte maturation and fertilization. We discuss recent advances in uncovering the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving this complex process and highlight key knowledge gaps that remain to be addressed.},
  author       = {Hofmann, Laura and Heisenberg, Carl-Philipp J},
  issn         = {1096-3634},
  journal      = {Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology},
  publisher    = {Elsevier},
  title        = {{Decoding zebrafish oogenesis: From primordial germ cell development to fertilization}},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.semcdb.2025.103650},
  volume       = {175},
  year         = {2025},
}

@article{13229,
  abstract     = {Dynamic reorganization of the cytoplasm is key to many core cellular processes, such as cell division, cell migration, and cell polarization. Cytoskeletal rearrangements are thought to constitute the main drivers of cytoplasmic flows and reorganization. In contrast, remarkably little is known about how dynamic changes in size and shape of cell organelles affect cytoplasmic organization. Here, we show that within the maturing zebrafish oocyte, the surface localization of exocytosis-competent cortical granules (Cgs) upon germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) is achieved by the combined activities of yolk granule (Yg) fusion and microtubule aster formation and translocation. We find that Cgs are moved towards the oocyte surface through radially outward cytoplasmic flows induced by Ygs fusing and compacting towards the oocyte center in response to GVBD. We further show that vesicles decorated with the small Rab GTPase Rab11, a master regulator of vesicular trafficking and exocytosis, accumulate together with Cgs at the oocyte surface. This accumulation is achieved by Rab11-positive vesicles being transported by acentrosomal microtubule asters, the formation of which is induced by the release of CyclinB/Cdk1 upon GVBD, and which display a net movement towards the oocyte surface by preferentially binding to the oocyte actin cortex. We finally demonstrate that the decoration of Cgs by Rab11 at the oocyte surface is needed for Cg exocytosis and subsequent chorion elevation, a process central in egg activation. Collectively, these findings unravel a yet unrecognized role of organelle fusion, functioning together with cytoskeletal rearrangements, in orchestrating cytoplasmic organization during oocyte maturation.},
  author       = {Shamipour, Shayan and Hofmann, Laura and Steccari, Irene and Kardos, Roland and Heisenberg, Carl-Philipp J},
  issn         = {1545-7885},
  journal      = {PLoS Biology},
  number       = {6},
  pages        = {e3002146},
  publisher    = {Public Library of Science},
  title        = {{Yolk granule fusion and microtubule aster formation regulate cortical granule translocation and exocytosis in zebrafish oocytes}},
  doi          = {10.1371/journal.pbio.3002146},
  volume       = {21},
  year         = {2023},
}