Decrease in the levels of specific non-polysomal messenger ribonucleoproteins during the mouse sarcoma-180 ascites cell cycle.

A few mRNAs in S-180 ascites cells are found as non-polysomal messenger ribonucleoprotein particles, whose translation is restricted both in vivo and in vitro. To determine if these mRNPs remain untranslated throughout the cell cycle we obtained S-180 ascites cells enriched in cell cycle stages by centrifugation through ficoll gradients. The "inactive" mRNA species were clearly present in the pre-polysomal fraction from S and pre-S phase cells, however they were not detected in the mRNP fraction from post S phase cells. Hybridization of a cloned cDNA probe for one of these species (P-40) to polysomal RNA from pre- or post-S phase cells demonstrated it was present in substantially higher concentrations in polysomes from post-S phase cells, consistent with its translation after S phase. We also observed that a poly (A)-minus form of the mRNA coding for actin was restricted to post S phase cells.