Mathematical modeling of a cellular division: The ovocyte meiose induced by the progesterone

Cellular division (mitose or meiose) is controlled by intracellular factors including enzymes, like kinase and phosphatase proteins. In the Xenopus, oocyte meiose is dependent on a steroide hormone: the progesterone. This one induces the activation of a factor called MPF, one of the constitutive elements of MPF is homologue to the produce (P34) of the cellular division control gene (Cdc 2). We studied a mathematical model of the hormonal mechanism action, which gives rise to MPF activation. The model takes account of: the decrease of the intracellular messenger level: the cyclic AMP; the specific drop in the activity of a kinase protein: the kinase protein A; the dephosphorylation of the maturation protein MP.P; the activation of the maturation promoting factor MPF.