title: On the Relationship of Protein and mRNA Dynamics in Vertebrate Embryonic Development.
abstract: A biochemical explanation of development from the fertilized egg to the adult requires an understanding of the proteins and RNAs expressed over time during embryogenesis. We present a comprehensive characterization of protein and mRNA dynamics across early development in Xenopus. Surprisingly, we find that most protein levels change little and duplicated genes are expressed similarly. While the correlation between protein and mRNA levels is poor, a mass action kinetics model parameterized using protein synthesis and degradation rates regresses protein dynamics to RNA dynamics, corrected for initial protein concentration. This study provides detailed data for absolute levels of ∼10,000 proteins and ∼28,000 transcripts via a convenient web portal, a rich resource for developmental biologists. It underscores the lasting impact of maternal dowry, finds surprisingly few cases where degradation alone drives a change in protein level, and highlights the importance of transcription in shaping the dynamics of the embryonic proteome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peshkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wühr
authors.affiliation: National Xenopus Resource, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pearl
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 96704, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gerhart
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Allon M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: National Xenopus Resource, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horb
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: steven_gygi@hms.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Gygi
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: marc@hms.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Marc W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kirschner
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020543:Proteome / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D029867:Xenopus Proteins