Synthesis of human placental lactogen and human chorionic gonadotropin by polyribosomes and messenger RNA's from early and full term placentas.

Synthesis of human placental lactogen (hPL) and of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by membrane-bound and free polyribosomes from early and from full term human placentas was investigated by in vitro release of the nascent hormone peptides, followed by immunoprecipitation and electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate gels, and by specific binding of 125I-labeled hPL antibody to nascent peptide chains. In addition, messenger RNA'S Were extracted from total, free, and membrane-bound placental polyribosomes and their capacities for hPL and hCG synthesis were measured in a heterologous cell-free system prepared from wheat germ. Membrane-bound polyribosomes from full term placentas were several times more active in the synthesis of both peptide hormones than were free polyribosomes. By binding 125I-labeled hPL antibody to nascent chains on the polyribosomes, it was determined that hPL is made by clusters of seven to nine ribosomes. About 8% of the nascent peptide chains released by incubation of polyribosomes from full term placentas was accounted for by hPL, and 2% by hCG. In contrast, no chains of hPL were released by polyribosomes from 10-week placentas, whereas 11% of the total released chains were accounted for by hCG. When messenger RNAs prepared from the polyribosomes of 20- and 40-week placentas were used to stimulate protein synthesis in a wheat germ system, hPL accounted for 0.4 and 2%, respectively, of total protein synthesis, while hCG was 8 and 2%, respectively. This confirmed the relative proportions observed for nascent chains on the polyribosomes of early and late placentas. Unexpectedly, translation of mRNA from free polyribosomes yielded as much hPL and two-thirds as much hCG as did translation of mRNA from bound polyribosomes. We conclude, that the decreased blood levels of hCG and increased blood levels of hPL with advancing gestational age reflect the relative in vitro rates of synthesis of these hormones by placental polyribosomes, the abundance of which is determined by availability of their respective messenger RNAs at different times in gestation.