Regulation of translation during oogenesis and embryogenesis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Summary

Translational activity in the oocyte and early embryo of Manduca sexta may be regulated by a number of mechanisms including availability of ribosomal subunits, the protein complement of the maternal mRNP, and the presence of a functional 5′ cap structure on the maternal mRNA. We present preliminary experiments concerning the role of intracellular pH in the activation of protein synthesis and the nature of the cortical cytoskeleton of the mature oocyte and its possible role in immobilizing maternal mRNA.

Keywords:

• maternal mRNA
• translational control
• oogenesis
• intracellular pH