Transition of Xwnt-11 mRNA from Inactive Form to Polyribosomes in Frogs during Early Embryogenesis

D. V. Shatilov, E. S. Pshennikova, and A. S. Voronina^*

Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky pr. 33, Moscow 119071, Russia; E-mail: voronina@inbi.ras.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received November 1, 2002; Revision received November 20, 2002

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The distributionof Xwnt-11 mRNAbetween polysomes and informosomes was studied in Xenopus laevis and Rana temporaria during early embryogenesis. The ratio between polysomes and informosomes suggests their involvement in translation of these mRNAs. In eggs and immediately after fertilization the Xwnt-11 mRNAs are mostly positioned in informosomes. During the cleavage stage, these mRNAs have also been recognized in polysomes. Just before the onset of zygote genome functioning (at the stage of mid blastula), Xwnt-11 mRNA rapidly appears in polysomes of Rana embryos. However, in Xenopus, Xwnt-11 mRNA appears in polysomes only at the end of gastrula. Before this stage, the Xwnt-11 mRNA in Xenopus can be found mostly in informosomes.

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KEY WORDS: informosomes, polyribosomes, regulation of translation, dorsoventral differentiation, Xwnt-11, Xenopus laevis, Rana temporaria, density gradient centrifugation

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