Ubiquitin c-terminal hydrolase l1 (uchl1) and the terrible, no good ovarian follicle

Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) is a de-ubiquitinating enzyme enriched in human and mouse oocytes. Studies of UCHL1 posit that it modulates activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor and overexpression leads to down-regulation of the estrogen receptor. UCHL1 also directly regulates protein stabilization and turnover in developing germ cells. Our lab has demonstrated that mice that are heterozygous or homozygous for UCHL1 deletion exhibit severe subfertility and aberrant ovulation, however the mechanism of these changes is not clear. Our objective is to explore the role of UCHL1 in the function of the murine ovarian follicle, as we hypothesize that UCHL1 loss of function results in reduced viability of granulosa cells, altered expression of steroidogenic enzymes, and ovarian and endocrine dysfunction.