title: Antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide-directed cleavage of maternal mRNA in Xenopus oocytes and embryos.
abstract: We have investigated the effect of specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (oligos) on endogenous histone H4 mRNA in Xenopus oocytes, eggs and embryos. In unfertilised eggs and non-matured oocytes, one 20-mer oligo (H4-1) mediated the RNAse H-like cleavage of up to 95% of H4 mRNA (which included polysomal mRNA), and cleavage was still obtained when the size of the oligo was reduced to a 10-mer; no cleavage was observed with 6- and 8-mers. The residual uncleaved mRNA appeared to be completely inaccessible to H4-1 since a second injection caused no further cleavage. A second 20-mer (H4-2) directed against a different region of H4 mRNA was much less effective (less than 5% cleavage). In fertilised embryos, injections of H4-1 and an oligo directed against the localised Vg1 mRNA caused less cleavage than in oocytes and also showed signs of inducing localised, non-specific mRNA cleavage. However we have been able to prepare fertilised embryos devoid of Vg1 mRNA by maturing and fertilising oligo-injected oocytes in vitro.
authors: Biochemistry Department, University of Birmingham, U.K.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Shuttleworth
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Matthews
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Dale
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Baker
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Colman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics*; D007700:Kinetics; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA