XB/U-cadherin mRNA contains cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements and is polyadenylated during oocyte maturation in Xenopus laevis.

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements (CPE) are distinct sequence motifs in the 3'-untranslated region of mRNAs. They control translation of these RNAs by cytoplasmic polyadenylation. We show that the mRNA of the cell adhesion molecule XB/U-cadherin contains two CPE motifs. With oocyte maturation this mRNA becomes polyadenylated and increasingly recruited into the polysomal fraction. Our results give evidence that CPEs of the XB/U-cadherin mRNA are responsible for the XB/U-cadherin protein increase during oocyte maturation.