Scientists have revealed the high-resolution structure of massive 'storage lockers' in egg cells that hold the ingredients for life.
April 1, 2026
Original Paper
Hierarchical Assembly of Native Cytoplasmic Lattices Revealed by Cryo-EM
bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.03.30.715201
The Takeaway
Mammalian oocytes contain mysterious structures called cytoplasmic lattices (CPLs) that were previously a mystery. This study reveals they are complex, 14-component molecular scaffolds that 'hibernate' essential proteins and tubulin, ensuring they are ready to build an embryo the moment fertilization occurs.
From the abstract
Oocytes depend on maternal factors for maturation and early embryogenesis. Cytoplasmic lattices (CPLs) are distinctive fibrillar structures in mammalian oocyte cytoplasm implicated in maternal factor storage and developmental competence, yet their molecular composition and architecture remain elusive. Here, we use cryo-electron microscopy to resolve the high-resolution structure of native mouse oocyte CPLs. We identify 14 intrinsic components of multiple copies that assemble into filaments in wh