Ribosomal protein, histone and calmodulin mRNAs are differently regulated at the translational level during oogenesis of Xenopus laevis.

The localization of r-protein mRNA in subcellular compartments has been analysed. It was observed that the mRNA for a representative r-protein (L1) is diffuse in the cytoplasm, as shown by in situ hybridization experiments and that the distribution of rp-mRNA between polysomes and light mRNPs changes during oogenesis. In early oogenesis this mRNA is found mostly in subpolysomal fractions, whereas at the beginning of vitellogenesis (stage II) it becomes associated with polysomes where it remains in a constant amount at later stages. Histone and calmodulin mRNA, on the contrary, are mostly associated with non-polysomal fast-sedimenting particles throughout oogenesis. This suggests that the partition of different classes of mRNA between polysomes, light mRNP and heavy particles depends on their nature and might be determined by different requirements for these mRNAs during oogenesis.