Specific inhibition of endogenous beta-tubulin synthesis in Xenopus oocytes by anti-messenger oligodeoxynucleotides.
An oligodeoxynucleotide containing 27 nucleotides, complementary to a highly conserved sequence of beta-tubulin mRNAs, led to a nearly complete inhibition of beta-tubulin synthesis in Xenopus oocytes after microinjection. Inhibition persisted 24 hours post-injection and was specific for beta-tubulin as the synthesis of alpha-tubulin as well as that of other proteins from the oocyte was not affected. Complete inhibition of beta-tubulin synthesis did not prevent progesterone-induced meiotic maturation and formation of the chromosome spindle. This result indicates that the pool of endogenous tubulin already present in fully-grown oocytes is sufficient to allow normal meiotic maturation. This finding correlates with previous experiments showing that the turn-over of tubulin is very slow in the oocyte.
Jessus
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Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Reproduction, INRA CNRS UA 555, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
Cazenave
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Ozon
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Hélène
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D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008540:Meiosis; D008845:Microinjections; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014404:Tubulin