Stimulation of Xenopus oocyte protein synthesis by microinjected adenovirus RNA.

The ability of injected heterologous mRNAs to compete with endogenous mRNAs in Xenopus oocytes was assayed. In confirmation of previous reports, globin mRNA translation in oocytes results in a concomitant decrease in endogenous protein synthesis. In contrast, injection of adenovirus 5 mRNA into the oocyte results in a stimulation of endogenous protein synthesis. The stimulation is dose dependent and does not require nuclear transcription in the oocyte. Preliminary mapping data suggest that the stimulatory RNA is a product of one of the viral immediate early genes.