卵子质量与卵泡体细胞的内分泌功能是影响女性生育能力及生殖健康的关键。卵母细胞及颗粒细胞的发育与功能受到其内外多种因素(诸如：激素、生长因子、营养供应以及应激等)以及两种细胞之间交互作用的复杂调控。然而，卵母细胞与颗粒细胞如何整合这些因素进而协同调控彼此的发育尚不明了。MTOR被广泛认为是细胞用以整合上述复杂因素进而调控其生长发育的关键信号分子，但其在卵母细胞及颗粒细胞中的具体作用及机制还不清楚。本项目在前期发现MTOR通路介导卵母细胞-颗粒细胞交互作用并对两种细胞具有重要调控功能的基础上，拟利用卵母细胞与颗粒细胞特异性Mtor敲除小鼠模型，并结合RiboTag/RIP-Seq和RNA-Seq等技术深入研究MTOR通路调控卵母细胞及颗粒细胞发育，进而影响卵母细胞质量和控制颗粒细胞命运的机制，并探寻两种细胞内受MTOR通路调控并对卵母细胞减数分裂及发育潜能起重要调控作用的关键基因。

The quality of oocytes and the endocrine functions of ovarian somatic cells are key determinants of females' reproductive potential and health. The development and functions of oocytes and granulosa cells are controlled by multiple factors and complex signals existing both within and outside of them, which include hormones, growth factors, nutrients and stress, as well as the interactions between the oocytes and the companion granulosa cells. However, how the oocyte and its companion granulosa cells integrate these factors and signals to coordinate their development remains poorly understood. MTOR is a widely recognized key integrator of such cues important for the control of cell growth and differentiation, but its specific roles and the underlying mechanisms in controlling oocyte and granulosa cell development are still not known. Here, based on our recent findings on the involvement of MTOR in the interaction between oocytes and granulosa cells and its essential roles in the control of oocyte and granulosa cell development, we propose to further explore the mechanisms by which MTOR determines oocyte quality and granulosa cell fate, and to identify key genes that are downstream of MTOR and essential for oocyte acquisition of meiotic and developmental competence.