Changes in protein synthesis following fertilization of the mouse ovum

A quantitative method utilizing double isotope labeling with 3H-methionine and 35S-methionine and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was employed to compare synthesis of 95 individual proteins in fertilized and unfertilized mouse ova. It was found that six proteins had significantly (P less than 0.05) increased rates of synthesis while 11 proteins had significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased rates of synthesis following fertilization. The studies indicate that there are changes in the synthetic rates of a much larger number of proteins at the time of fertilization than expected from previous reports.