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Updated: Jul 27, 2025

Defining the Program of Maternal mRNA Translation during In vitro Maturation using a Single Oocyte Reporter Assay
Published on: June 16, 2021
5S RNA AND TRANSFER RNA SYNTHESIS IN GERMINAL VESICLE OOCYTES AND DURING HORMONALLY-INDUCED MEIOTIC MATURATION OF
1Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Ma. 02543 and Department of Biochemistry, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70119.
Abstract:
The incorporation of 3 H-guanosine as 3 H-GMP into 5S RNA and into transfer RNA (tRNA) was examined in isolated large germinal vesicle oocytes, in isolated mature ootids and during and subsequent to hormonally (l-methyladenine)-induced meiotic maturation in the starfish, Asterias forbesii.Purified soluble RNA1 preparations at each stage were fractionated by electrophoresis on 10% polyacrylamide gels, while high molecular weight RNAs were resolved by subjecting total RNA samples to electrophoresis on 2.4% acrylamide+0.5% agarose gels. The results showed that large germinal vesicle oocytes, containing a single compact nucleolus, synthesize 5S RNA and tRNA as well as the previously-reported (1, 23-26) nucleolar rRNAs. In contrast, during and subsequent to hormonally-induced meiotic maturation, after germinal vesicle braekdown and nucleolar dissolution, the synthesis of 5S RNA and tRNA continues in the absence of detectable high molecular weight rRNA synthesis.
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