Open AccessPreferential Translation of mRNAs in an mRNA‐Dependent Reticulocyte Lysate
Author(s) -
ASSELBERGS Fred A. M.,
MEULENBERG Eline,
VENROOIJ Walther J.,
BLOEMENDAL Hans
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1980.tb04780.x
Subject(s) - reticulocyte , messenger rna , translation (biology) , globin , xenopus , protein biosynthesis , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , lysis , p bodies , rna , chemistry , biochemistry , gene
Messenger RNA competition experiments were performed in an mRNA‐dependent reticulocyte lysate using three kinds of mRNA: rabbit globin mRNA, calf eye lens mRNA and RNA of turnip yellow mosaic virus. Our results indicate that at supersaturating concentrations of mRNA preferential translation of certain mRNA species can be observed. Furthermore, the pattern of mRNA selection by the translational apparatus suggests that the rate of translation of different mRNA species is limited by different components of the reticulocyte lysate. Our observations in the cell‐free system are strikingly different from our previously published mRNA competition experiments in Xenopus oocytes using the same preparations of lens and globin mRNA, in which no selective translation was observed [Asselbergs et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 94 , 249–254 (1979)]. The restraints on mRNA translation in vitro are apparently different from those in vivo , i.e. in oocytes.