Expression of elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1 alpha) and 1 beta gamma (EF-1 beta gamma) are uncoupled in early Xenopus embryos.
In the amphibian Xenopus laevis, the elongation factor 1 alpha proteins (EF-1 alpha) synthesised in oocytes and somatic cells correspond to distinct gene products. Furthermore, the somatic EF-1 alpha gene (EF-1 alpha S) produces one of the most highly expressed early zygotic transcripts in the embryo. The functional recycling of EF-1 alpha (conversion of EF-1 alpha-GDP to EF-1 alpha-GTP) is assured by the EF-1 beta gamma complex. We show here that in Xenopus laevis embryos, contrary to the situation for EF-1 alpha, EF-1 beta, and EF-1 gamma mRNAs are transcribed from the same genes in oocytes and somatic cells. In addition, the onset of transcription of the EF-1 beta and EF-1 gamma genes from the zygotic genome occurs several hours after that of the somatic EF-1 alpha S gene. Therefore, during early Xenopus development the expression of these three elongation factors is not co-ordinated at the transcriptional level. The consequences of this uncoupling on the efficiency of translational elongation in the early Xenopus embryo are discussed.
Morales
J
J
Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Reproduction, URA 1449 CNRS, INRA, Université de Paris VI, France.
Bassez
T
T
Cormier
P
P
Mulner-Lorillon
O
O
Bellé
R
R
Osborne
H B
HB
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015723:Gene Library; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger