Cyclin B3-CDK1 couples translational de-repression to embryonic mitoses via OMA protein degradation in C. elegans

Abstract

During early embryogenesis, gene expression relies on maternally loaded mRNAs whose translation is controlled by RNA binding proteins. Here, we identify a critical role for the cyclin B3-CDK1 complex, known for its function in mitosis, in driving early embryonic gene expression in C. elegans. The cyclin B3-CDK1 complex works by marking the RNA binding OMA proteins (OMA-1 and OMA-2) for degradation, which ensures the de-repression and translation of their target mRNAs. OMA protein degradation relies on cyclin B3’s conserved phosphate-binding pocket, which promotes multi-site OMA phosphorylation and the generation of phospho-degrons. Notably, the phosphate-binding pocket of cyclin B3 does not substantially contribute to its mitotic roles, indicating that the mitotic and translational functions of the cyclin B3-CDK1 complex are separable. These findings establish that embryonic activation of the cyclin B3-CDK1 complex drives both mitotic divisions and mRNA de-repression, which ensures that cell division is coupled to the early gene expression program in development.