title: Amounts and modulation of actin mRNAs in mouse oocytes and embryos.
abstract: In order to measure the content of beta- and gamma-actin mRNA in mouse oocytes and ovulated eggs, Northern and slot blots were hybridized to complementary RNA probes transcribed from mouse isotype-specific cDNA sequences. The blots included samples of isotype-specific sense strand RNA standards prepared from the same cDNA sequences. Total actin mRNA content was estimated to be 40 fg per preovulatory full-grown oocyte or egg, consisting of one-third beta-actin mRNA and two-thirds gamma-actin mRNA. Ninety per cent of the actin mRNA is on polysomes in full-grown oocytes. The per cent of actin mRNA in polysomal mRNA is similar to the per cent of actin in newly synthesized proteins. Measurements on other developmental stages showed that, in mid-growth-phase oocytes, each actin mRNA reaches a level twofold higher than in full-grown oocytes. Thereafter, all modulations of the two isotypic mRNAs occur in parallel; that is, they are maintained at constant levels during the late growth phase (oocytes from females 8-14 days old); gradually degraded in oocytes that have completed their rapid growth phase (oocytes from females 15-18 days old), in maturing oocytes, and in 1- and 2-cell embryos; and deadenylated after about 7 h of progression into meiotic maturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bachvarova
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Leon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakiyama
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Paynton
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000032:analysis*; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009865:Oocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D010063:Ovum / Q000032:analysis; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger