Switching in levels of translatable mRNAs for enolase isozymes during development of chicken skeletal muscle.

Developmental changes in the levels of translatable mRNAs for alpha and beta enolase subunits in chicken muscle were determined using the rabbit reticulocyte cell-free translation system. The level of translatable alpha mRNA was decreased gradually during the development of the muscle. On the contrary, the levels of translatable beta mRNA was not detected at early embryonic stage, but increased dramatically after hatching. These changes were closely correlated with those of the corresponding enzyme activities. The results suggest that the developmental changes in the activities of alpha alpha and beta beta enolases in chicken muscle arise as the result of changes in the amount of corresponding mRNAs.