Synthesis of Lens Crystallins in Xenopus Oocytes as Determined by Quantitative Immunoprecipitation

Abstract

Total poly(A)-containing calf lens mRNA was microinjected into Xenopus oocytes and synthesis of α, β, and γ-crystallins was demonstrated. By a method of quantitative immunoprecipitation the rate of translation of purified 14-S αA₂-crystallin mRNA was compared with virtually the same molar amounts of mRNA, taking into account the larger size of the αA₂-crystallin mRNA. Kinetics of translation were also very similar and both mRNAs were translated with similar rate and efficiency for at least two days. It was estimated that 20–30 polypeptide chains per hour per mRNA molecule were synthesized.