title: Expression and cell membrane localization of catenins during mouse preimplantation development.
abstract: We have studied transcription, expression, and membrane localization of components of the E-cadherin-catenin complex stage by stage during mouse preimplantation development. Maternal E-cadherin and alpha- and beta-catenin are stored as mRNA and/or protein in unfertilized eggs and are already assembled into a protein complex at this stage. After fertilization, it is likely that they mediate adhesion of early-stage blastomeres. Biosynthesis of plakoglobin is delayed relative to the other components. The temporal mRNA and protein expression patterns of the components of the cadherin-catenin complex correlate with the presence or absence of potential cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements (CPEs) in the 3'-UTRs of the respective cDNAs. Our results suggest that the components of the E-cadherin-catenin complex derived from both maternal and zygotic gene activity are increasingly accumulated and stored in a nonfunctional form during early cleavage stages and are ready to be used for compaction and the formation of the trophectodermal cell layer.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie, Freiburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohsugi
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Butz
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kemler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D051379:Mice; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495267:CTNNB1 protein, mouse; D015820:Cadherins; C495272:Ctnna1 protein, mouse; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin