Qualitative and quantitative changes in protein synthesis occur at the 8-16-cell stage of embryogenesis in the cow.
Cow oocytes and preimplantation embryos were cultured in medium containing radiolabelled methionine and the proteins synthesized were analysed by one-dimensional electrophoresis and fluorography. Marked changes in the pattern of synthesis were observed at the 8-16-cell stage of development. Quantitatively, a gradual decrease in the rate of protein synthesis occurred between the zygote and 8-cell stage and then the rate increased progressively to the blastocyst stage. Incorporation of radiolabelled uridine into RNA was first detected at the 16-cell stage. Taken together, these results suggest that protein synthesis is programmed by maternal mRNA up to the 8-cell stage but switches to mRNA derived from the zygote genome between the 8- and 16-cell stage.
Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
R E
RE
Frei
G A
GA
Schultz
R B
RB
Church
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015053:Zygote / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger