Progression through the mitotic and meiotic cell cycle is driven by fluctuations in the levels of cyclins, the regulatory subunits controlling the localization and activity of CDK1 kinases. Cyclin levels are regulated through a precise balance of synthesis and degradation. Here we demonstrate that the synthesis of Cyclin B1 during the oocyte meiotic cell cycle is defined by the selective translation of mRNA variants generated through alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA). Using gene editing in mice, we introduced mutations into the proximal and distal polyadenylation elements of the 3 untranslated region (UTR) of the Ccnb1 mRNA. Through in vivo loss-of-function experiments, we demonstrate that the translation of mRNA with a short 3 UTR specifies Cyclin B1 protein levels that set the timing of meiotic re-entry. In contrast, translation directed by a long 3 UTR is necessary to direct Cyclin B1 protein accumulation during the MI/MII transition. These findings establish that the progression through the cell cycle is dependent on the selective translation of multiple mRNA variants generated by APA.

The use of sunlight to drive organic reactions constitutes a green and sustainable strategy for organic synthesis. Herein, we discovered that the earth-abundant aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) though paradigmatically known to be an insulator could induce an immense increase in the selective photo-oxidation of different benzyl alcohols in the presence of a large variety of dyes and O₂. This unique phenomenon is based on the surface complexation of benzyl alcohol (BnOH) with the Brønsted base sites on Al₂O₃, which reduces its oxidation potential and causes an upshift in its HOMO for electron abstraction by the dye. The surface complexation of O₂ with Al₂O₃ also activates the adsorbed O₂ for receiving electrons from the photoexcited dyes. This discovery brings forth a new understanding on utilizing surface complexation mechanisms between the reactants and earth abundant materials to effectively achieve a wider range of photoredox reactions.