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The Questions of Developmental Biology

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Oocyte chromosomes can be incubated with<br />

a radioactive RNA probe, and autoradiography used<br />

to visualize the precise location where the gene is<br />

being transcribed. Figure 19.26B shows diplotene<br />

chromosome I <strong>of</strong> the newt Triturus cristatus after<br />

incubation with radioactive histone mRNA.It is<br />

obvious that a histone gene (or set <strong>of</strong> histone genes)<br />

is located on one <strong>of</strong> these loops <strong>of</strong> the lampbrush<br />

chromosome (Old et al. 1977). Electron micrographs<br />

<strong>of</strong> gene transcripts from lampbrush chromosomes<br />

also enable one to see chains <strong>of</strong> mRNA coming <strong>of</strong>f<br />

each gene as it is transcribed (Hill and MacGregor<br />

1980).<br />

In addition to mRNA synthesis, the<br />

patterns <strong>of</strong> ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA<br />

transcription are also regulated during oogenesis.<br />

Figure 19.27A shows the course <strong>of</strong> rRNA and<br />

tRNA synthesis during Xenopus oogenesis.<br />

Transcription appears to begin in early (stage I,<br />

25 40 μm) oocytes, during the diplotene stage <strong>of</strong><br />

meiosis. At this time, all the rRNAs and tRNAs<br />

needed for protein synthesis until the mid-blastula<br />

stage are made, and all the maternal mRNAs<br />

needed for early development are transcribed. This<br />

stage lasts for months in Xenopus. <strong>The</strong> rate <strong>of</strong><br />

ribosomal RNA production is prodigious.

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