Dissecting PADI6 function defines oocyte cytoplasmic lattices as regulatory hubs for fundamental cellular processes

Oocyte cytoplasmic lattices are critical for early embryo development but their composition and function are not fully understood. Mutations in PADI6, an essential component of cytoplasmic lattices, lead to early embryonic developmental arrest and female infertility. To investigate PADI6 function in mRNA storage, global protein levels, and lattice composition during early mammalian development we used single cell transcriptomics and proteomics methods to study two mouse models. Padi6 null mutation resulted in inhibition of embryonic genome activation, defective maternal mRNA degradation, and disruption to protein storage on the cytoplasmic lattices. Distinct developmental phenotypes were observed with a hypomorphic Padi6 mutation. By developing a powerful single cell proteomic fractionation method, we define the cytoplasmic lattice enriched proteome in which we find essential components of other major oocyte-specific compartments (ELVA, MARDO), suggesting previously unknown interconnections between them. Our findings highlight a critical scaffolding function of PADI6 and implicate cytoplasmic lattices as regulatory hubs for key processes in the oocyte and early embryo, including translation, respiration and protein degradation.