Widespread changes in the translation and adenylation of maternal messenger RNAs following fertilization of Spisula oocytes

Eric T. Rosenthal, Joan V. Ruderman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have reported previously that sequence-specific adenylations and deadenylations accompany changes in the translation of maternal mRNA following fertilization of Spisula oocytes (E. T. Rosenthal, T. R. Tansey, and J. V. Ruderman, 1983, J. Mol. Biol. 166, 309-327). The data presented here confirm and extend those observations. We have identified four classes of maternal mRNA with respect to translation: Class 1-not translated in oocytes and translated at very high efficiency immediately after fertilization, Class 2-not translated in oocytes and partially utilized for translation following fertilization, Class 3-translated in oocytes and not translated in embryos, and Class 4-not translated either before or after fertilization. There is an excellent, although not perfect, correlation between the translation of an mRNA and its polyadenylation status. The poly(A) tails of all the mRNAs which are translated in oocytes and untranslated in embryos are shortened at fertilization, and the poly(A) tails of those mRNAs which are untranslated in oocytes and translated in embryos are lengthened at fertilization. These adenylations and deadenylations occur simultaneously during the first 20 min following fertilization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)237-246
Number of pages10
JournalDevelopmental biology
Volume121
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1987
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology

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