Isolation of rat liver albumin messenger RNA

Expression of polyadenylated and non-polyadenylated trkC transcripts in the rodent central nervous system

We have previously isolated a full-length cDNA clone encoding rat TrkC, a member of the Trk family of tyrosine kinase receptors, that specifically mediates biological responses to neurotrophin-3. Here, we report the identification of five major trkC transcripts in the adult and developing rat and mouse brain suggesting the presence of several TrkC receptors. Northern blot hybridizations revealed that three of these trkC transcripts (of 14, 3.9 and 4.8 kb) were poly(A)+ messenger RNAs, while the two others, of shorter size (1.1 and 0.7 kb), were poly(A)- messenger RNAs. All transcripts were expressed in 11 brain regions but poly(A)- messenger RNAs were found at much higher levels than poly(A)+ messenger RNAs in the cerebellum. Hybridization with five oligonucleotide and two complementary DNA probes, corresponding to different parts of the full-length trkC complementary DNA, revealed that the two poly(A)- transcripts may encode for receptors truncated in their extracellular and kinase intracellular domains. During ontogeny, poly(A)- trkC messenger RNAs were found at low amounts at prenatal and early postnatal ages with a drastic increase in the cerebellum at postnatal day 30. No poly(A)- transcript was identified for the trk B gene. In situ hybridization revealed that trkC messenger RNAs are expressed both in granular and Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. Northern blot on RNA extracted from mice mutant strains with degeneration of either granular or both granular and Purkinje cells suggested that poly(A)- and poly(A)+ trkC messenger RNAs are expressed within the same cells. We have demonstrated the existence of several trkC transcripts that differ both by their size and polyadenylation. This phenomenon could be of physiological relevance in regulating TrkC functions. To the best of our knowledge, this is an original feature for a mammalian gene expression. Studies focused on poly(A)- messenger RNAs could give rise to the identification of other genes expressed in a similar fashion.

Brain non-adenylated mRNAs

Most eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNA) species contain a 3'-poly(A) tract. The histone mRNAs are a notable exception although a subclass of histone-encoding mRNAs is polyadenylated. A class of mRNAs lacking a poly(A) tail would be expected to be less stable than poly(A)+ mRNAs and might, like the histones, have a half-life that varied in response to changes in the intracellular milieu. Brain mRNA exhibits an unusually high degree of sequence complexity; studies published ten years ago suggested that a large component of this complexity might be present in a poly(A)- mRNA population that was expressed postnatally. The question of the existence of a complex class of poly(A)- brain mRNAs is particularly tantalizing in light of the heterogeneity of brain cells and the possibility that the stability of these poly(A)- mRNAs might vary with changes in synaptic function, changing hormonal stimulation or with other modulations of neuronal function. The mRNA complexity analyses, although intriguing, did not prove the existence of the complex class of poly(A)- brain mRNAs. The observed mRNA complexity could have resulted from a variety of artifacts, discussed in more detail below. Several attempts have been made to clone members of this class of mRNA. This search for specific poly(A)- brain mRNAs has met with only limited success. Changes in mRNA polyadenylation state do occur in brain in response to specific physiologic stimuli; however, both the role of polyadenylation and de-adenylation in specific neuronal activities and the existence and significance of poly(A)- mRNAs in brain remain unclear.

A micromethod for measuring the molar concentration of polyadenylated RNA in the presence of ribosomal RNA

A method has been developed for measuring the molar concentration of RNA and the mole fraction of polyadenylated RNA. Using known mixtures of globin mRNA and rRNA composed of 20 to 85% rRNA, the molar concentration of globin mRNA, a polyadenylated species, was determined in 45 min, with the consumption of less than 100 ng of total RNA. The technique is particularly well suited for determining the molar concentration of poly(A)+ RNA after chromatographic enrichment in columns of oligo(dT)-cellulose or poly(U)-Sepharose. The method makes possible the adoption of a molar standard.

Genes for cytochrome P-450 and their regulation

The capacity of the liver microsomal mixed-function oxidase system to metabolize a wide variety of exogenous as well as endogenous compounds reflects the participation of multiple forms of the terminal oxidase, cytochrome P-450, which have different broad, but overlapping, substrate specificities. Several of these isozymes accumulate in the liver after exposure of animals to specific inducing agents. Recent studies employing recombinant DNA techniques to investigate the genetic and evolutionary relatedness of various cytochrome P-450 isozymes as well as the molecular basis for the induction phenomenon are described. The conclusions from these investigations are presented in the context of the substantial body of data obtained from the characterization of specific cytochrome P-450 isozymes and from studies on the induction of specific isozymes or enzymatic activities during development or after treatment of animals with various inducing agents.

Time course of changes in albumin synthesis and mRNA in diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats

Albumin synthesis in rat liver in vivo decreased from 12.7 to 2.2% of total protein synthesis during the first 3 days after the induction of diabetes and then remained relatively constant at this depressed rate for another 3 days. Insulin treatment begun on the 3rd day after the induction of diabetes restored albumin synthesis to control values within 3 days. Hybridization of total polyadenylate-containing RNA with a specific albumin cDNA probe revealed a close correspondence between the relative abundance of albumin mRNA and the relative rate of albumin synthesis after induction of diabetes and in response to insulin treatment. The apparent half-life of albumin mRNA, based on the rate of change of the message from one steady-state level to another, was approximately 22 h in both diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats. Diabetes of 3-day duration had no effect on the average sizes of total and albumin-synthesizing polysomes or on the ribosomal half-transit time for total protein and albumin. However, the number of albumin-synthesizing polysomes decreased as a result of diabetes to approximately one-third the number found in control livers. Taken together the results indicate that albumin synthesis was regulated by the availability of albumin mRNA and not by alterations in degradation, sequestration, or translation of message.

Synthesis in vitro of precursor-type carnitine acetyltransferase with messenger RNA from Candida tropicalis

Carnitine acetyltransferase was synthesized in vitro in the mRNA-dependent reticulocyte system with mRNA from alkane-grown or propionate-grown cells of Candida tropicalis. The protein synthesized in vitro was isolated by immunoprecipitation with antibody against peroxisomal or mitochondrial carnitine acetyltransferase and was compared with peroxisomal carnitine acetyltransferase (Mr of subunits, 64 000 and 57 000) and the mitochondrial enzyme (Mr of subunits, 64 000 and 52 000) of C. tropicalis by electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Nascent carnitine acetyltransferase prepared in vitro showed a hetero-oligomeric property, like the peroxisomal and mitochondrial enzymes isolated from C. tropicalis. The molecular weights of the subunits of nascent carnitine acetyltransferase were estimated to be 71 000 and 57 000, indicating the existence of the precursor form of the enzyme. By sucrose density gradient centrifugation of total mRNA, these two subunit proteins were shown to be synthesized with respective mRNAs of different sizes. The same precursor-type of carnitine acetyltransferase was obtained with the mRNAs from the alkane-grown cells and the propionate-grown cells. The results obtained suggest that a common precursor will be post-translationally modified to form the peroxisomal and mitochondrial enzymes.

Biosynthesis of rabbit serum albumin in a heterologous fractionated subcellular system

As demonstrated by a simple procedure based on indirect immunoprecipitation, proteins retained on heparin-Sepharose 4B from postmitochondrial supernatants of rat liver and Zajdela hepatoma catalyse the translation of rabbit serum albumin mRNA in the presence of ribosomal subunits from rat liver, Zajdela hepatoma or rabbit reticulocytes. The albumin synthesis shows an optimum at 1.5 mM MgCl2 and 25 mM KCl and requires ATP and GTP. It is significantly stimulated by tRNA and proceeds for more than 2 h, suggesting a high rate of reinitiation. At the optimum ribosomes:mRNA ratio of 13:1, the immunoprecipitable radioactivity exceeds 15-20-times the blank values. Fluorography of polyacrylamide slabs after electrophoresis of immunoprecipitates revealed the presence of only complete full-size serum albumin without any smaller peptides resulting from premature terminations of polypeptide chains, demonstrating faithful translation. In stained gels only, both heavy and light chains of immunoglobulin G were found, indicating that the assay procedure is highly specific and reliable. The fractionated heterologous protein-synthesizing system described in this paper may be generally useful for studies on the synthesis of specific proteins and factors affecting their rates since, unlike comparable translation assays, a precise calculation of the balance of newly synthesized proteins is possible.

Synthesis of vimentin in a reticulocyte cell-free system programmed by poly(A)-rich RNA from several cell lines and rat liver

Poly(A)-rich RNA has been isolated from Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells and translated in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system. The intermediate filament protein, vimentin, was found to be a major translation product. Fractionation of the poly(A)-rich RNA by sucrose gradient centrifugation showed that the vimentin mRNA had a sedimentation coefficient of about 18 S corresponding to a molecular size of about 2000 nucleotides. This means that it must possess significant non-coding regions. Vimentin synthesized in vitro was identical to native vimentin with regard to its precipitability with ammonium sulphate, extent of phosphorylation and susceptibility to digestion by the vimentin-specific, Ca2+-activated proteinase. Poly(A)-rich RNA was also isolated from a number of tissue-culture cells and rat liver, which contain varying amounts of vimentin in situ. It was found that the amount of vimentin synthesized by these RNA preparations in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system is proportional to the amount of vimentin detectable in situ, suggesting that the amount of cellular vimentin may be controlled at the level of transcription.

Optimization of the ethanol precipitation of RNA from formamide containing solutions

This study shows that high variability and low recoveries are obtained when conventional ethanol precipitation is used to recover RNA from the 70%-90% formamide containing solutions that are used to elute poly(U) Sepharose columns. Precipitations of RNA at different formamide concentrations show that the variability of the recovery increases with increasing formamide concentration and the recovery decreases by 7% for each 10% increase in the formamide concentration. The formamide concentration curve shows that these factors can be optimized by diluting the formamide containing solutions at least to 30% formamide prior to the precipitation.

Isolation and characterization of xenopus laevis albumin mRNA

The messenger RNA for albumin was isolated from the liver of male frogs. Purification was achieved using oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography and sucrose gradient centrifugation under denaturing conditions. As judged by translational activity in a cell-free protein-synthesizing system derived from rabbit reticulocytes, albumin mRNA was enriched 259-fold as compared to the total ribonucleic acid of the liver cells. Purified albumin mRNA migrated after sucrose gradient centrifugation as a single symmetrical peak of approximately 17 S and also moved as a single band following denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis. Albumin mRNA possess properties compatible with the presence of a poly(adenylic acid) sequence. Translation in vitro yielded a product which is immunoprecipitable with anti-(frog albumin) and which showed a single radioactive peak having a molecular weight of about 74000 in sodium dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Complementary DNA was synthesized using reverse transcriptase, and, as a template, purified albumin mRNA. Following hybridization under conditions of excess RNA, the rot1/2 of albumin mRNA was found to be 1.8 X 10-3 mol . s . 1-1. This result also confirmed that albumin nRNA had been isolated in a highly purified form.

Protein synthesis with membrane-bound polysomes and albumin messenger RNA from livers of mutant mice

Investigation of deficiencies in serum protein synthesis resulting from deletion-mutations at the albino locus in mice was continued using in vitro conditions. Previous work showed that although total protein synthesis was only slightly lower in livers from albinos, newly synthesized protein appearing in plasma was 22% of that in controls. It was thought that the disorganized endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, characteristic for the liver (and kidney) of these mutants, might be responsible for the observed deficiencies. In the present study membrane-bound polysomes isolated from the livers of newborn albinos were 55% (c3H/c3H strain) and 62% (c14CoS strain) as efficient as those from normal littermates in incorporating radioactive leucine into protein in a cell-free system. These differences could not be eliminated by the addition of excess liver mRNA, exogenous soluble factors or by the exchange of cell sap between albino and control polysomes. In an earlier study albino liver slices synthesized only 13% (or 17% per mg of total protein synthesized) as much albumin as controls. We have now found that the level of albumin poly(A)+-RNA isolated from albino livers assayed with a reticulocyte lysate, was almost as high (85%) as in controls. It was concluded that the very low level of albumin in albino livers did not result from a deficiency of albumin mRNA. Whether the rate-limiting step in synthesis of albumin in mutant livers is at the level of translation or processing for secretion requires further investigation.

Highly purified ceruloplasmin messenger RNA from rat liver. Physico-chemical and functional characteristics

Highly purified ceruloplasmin mRNA was isolated from rat liver polyribosomes. The molecular weight of ceruloplasmin mRNA is in a range from 1.05 to 1.25 . 10(6) daltons which is large enough to code for a putative precursor of ceruloplasmin (approximately 700 amino acid acids). Ceruloplasmin mRNA contains 3'-terminal poly(A) the length of which varies from 38 to 165 nucleotides. The 5'-end of ceruloplasmin mRNA is blocked with confronting m7G residue which is a component of cap I (m7G5'ppp5'XmpAp). The addition of ceruloplasmin mRNA to wheat-germ cell free system programmed the synthesis of a product that was largely precipitated by anti-ceruloplasmin immunoglobulins. The translation product was homogeneous in polyacrylamide gel-sodium dodecylsulfate electrophoresis. Cell-free translation of ceruloplasmin mRNA was sensitive to inhibition by cap analogue.

Cloning of rat alpha-fetoprotein 3'-terminal complementary deoxyribonucleic acid sequences and preparation of radioactively labeled hybridization probes from cloned deoxyribonucleic acid inserts

Double-stranded complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) was synthesized from rat yolk sac alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA, inserted into the PstI site of plasmid pBR322 by an oligo(deoxyguanylic acid).oligo(deoxycytidylic acid) joining technique, and cloned in Escherichia coli chi 1776. A plasmid containing an inserted AFP double-stranded cDNA with a contiguous poly(adenylic acid) [poly(A)] segment was identified and subsequently employed in a new method for preparing AFP-specific hybridization probe. Following an initial digestion of the AFP plasmid with HindIII to create an open, recessed 3' end, lambda exonuclease III was employed to remove the DNA strand opposite the coding strand of the cDNA insert. Oligo(thymidylic acid) was then annealed to the poly(A) segment and employed as primer for E. coli DNA polymerase I to synthesize a 32P-labeled cDNA copy of the AFP coding strand. The single-stranded cDNA product was easily isolated by sedimentation through isokinetic alkaline sucrose gradients. Hybridization with this AFP-specific cDNA probe showed that the yolk sac contained a 6-fold greater concentration of AFP mRNA than that of the fetal liver. AFP mRNA was also found in the normal adult liver, but at a much lower level than in the fetal liver. The concentrations of AFP mRNA in Morris hepatomas 7777 and 8994, however, were significantly elevated to a 2- to 3-fold higher concentration that in the fetal liver.

Affinity chromatography of cells and cell membranes

This article attempts to introduce the concept of cellular affinity chromatography as it departs from molecular affinity chromatography. Special emphasis is placed on the selectio of a solid support as well as on the role of lectins as affinity ligands. Our major goal was to bring to light the basic principles involved, multiple options of ligands and matrices, and different techniques, which may be applied to separate the complex cell population as well as cell membranes. It is hoped that further developments in the field, especially in the selection of proper experimental conditions, ligands and matrix material may provide better results. We have tried to identify some of the potential problems which should be considered before these approaches can be used on a routine basis. Although the review deals primarily with the affinity chromatography of cells and cell membranes, examples are presented for diverse systems such as cell organelles, viruses and phages. A table summarizing the use of cellular affinity chromatography is included. It lists more than 80 examples covering the literature up to December, 1979.

Molecular cloning of DNA complementary to a mouse alpha-fetoprotein mRNA sequence

DNA complementary to mouse yolk sac messenger RNA has been inserted at the PstI site of the plasmid pBR322 by annealing of the oligo(dG)-tailed plasmid DNA with the oligo(dC)-tailed mouse DNA. Transformation of Escherichia coli strain RRI with this annealed DNA yielded clones bearing recombinant plasmids. The clones were screened for DNA complementary to mouse alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) messenger RNA sequences by hybridization with a cDNA probe transcribed from an AFP mRNA of over 90% purity. Out of nine plasmids that were isolated and analyzed by restiction mapping, all had homologous insert DNA of various lengths. The plasmid with the longest insert, pAF6, contained 1.65 kb of added DNA, which is about 70% of the AFP mRNA. This clone was positively identified by a hybridization-translation procedure to contain a cDNA sequence for AFP. A restriction map of this clone and the orientation of the message are presented.

Purification of messenger ribonucleic acids for fast and slow myosin heavy chains by indirect immunoprecipitation of polysomes from embryonic chick skeletal muscle

Fast and slow myosin heavy chain mRNAs were isolated by indirect immunoprecipitation of polysomes from 14-day-old embryonic chick leg muscle. The antibodies were prepared against myosin heavy chains purified by NaDod-SO4-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and were shown to be specific for fast and slow myosin heavy chains. The RNA fractions directed the synthesis of myosin heavy chains in a cell-free translation system from wheat germ. Several smaller peptides were also synthesized in lower concentrations. These probably are partial products of myosin heavy chains, since they are immunoprecipitated with antibodies to myosin heavy chains. Immunoprecipitation of the translation products with the antibodies to fast and slow myosin heavy chains showed the RNA preparations to be approximately 94% enriched for fast myosin heavy chain mRNA and approximately 84% enriched for slow myosin heavy chain mRNA with respect to myosin HC type. Peptides having slightly different mobilities on NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gels were immunoprecipitated by antibodies to fast and slow myosin heavy chains.

Cell-free translation and regulation of Candida lipolytica acetyl-coenzyme-A carboxylase messenger RNA

Messenger RNA from Candida lipolytica directs the synthesis of complete acetyl-coenzyme-A carboxylase in the mRNA-dependent reticulocyte lysate cell-free translation system. The identity of the translation product is evidenced by the following results: first, it is immunoprecipitated with antibody to acetyl-CoA carboxylase and competes with authentic acetyl-CoA carboxylase for binding to the antibody; secondly, it co-migrates with authentic acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Mr 230000) upon dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; finally, the peptide fragments formed by its partial proteolysis with papain or alpha-chymotrypsin are identical with those formed from authentic acetyl-CoA carboxylase. With the use of this assay system, it has been demonstrated that the level of acetyl-CoA carboxylase mRNA activity in C. lipolytica cells decreases with increasing concentrations of oleic acid in culture medium and that the changes in the mRNA activity parallel those in the cellular level of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. This finding, in conjunction with our previous study, indicates that the diminished synthesis of acetyl-CoA carboxylase in cells grown in the presence of fatty acid is due to a reduced level of the mRNA coding for the enzyme.

Fractionation and characterization of rat liver poly(A)-containing RNA

Three fractions of poly(A)-containing RNA were separated from total rat liver RNA using poly(U)-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. The poly(A)-containing RNA fractions were released by thermal elution. Fraction 1, eluted under the mildest conditions, and had poly(A) tracts of approx. 200 AMP units in length which appeared to be associated with poly(U) sequences of 20-50 UMP in length. Fraction 1 appeared to be present mainly in the nucleus and, its size distribution was similar to that of fractions 2 and 3. Fractions 2 and 3 eluted at higher temperatures and were associated mainly with polysomal and microsomal fractions. Poly(U) sequences were absent in fractions 2 and 3 while their poly(A) sequences had a size distribution characteristic of those reported in the mRNA of other organisms.

Purification and characterization of the messenger RNA coding for bovine corticotropin/beta-lipotropin precursor

The mRNA coding for the common precursor of corticotropin and beta-lipotropin has been purified to homogeneity from neurointermediate lobes of bovine pituitaries. The homogeneity of the mRNA preparation is evidenced by analysis of its translation product, electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel in the presence of formamide and analysis of the kinetics of hybridization with its cDNA. The purification procedure involves the isolation of RNA from membrane-bound polysomes, chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose and on poly(U)-Sepharose and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The mRNA has a molecular weight of approximately 450000, equivalent to approximately 1360 nucleotides in length, and contains a polyadenylate sequence with an average length of 68 nucleotides. The size of the mRNA is sufficiently large to encode the corticotropin/beta-lipotropin precursor.

Partial purification and characterization of rat-liver messenger RNA coding for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP)

The mRNA coding for the gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (EC 4.1.1.32) was partially purified from the liver of cyclic-AMP-treated rats by a procedure involving multiple oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatographies and sucrose gradient fractionations. The purification was monitored by translational assay using a wheat germ extract. Relative to RNA bound once to oligo(dT)-cellulose, the final material was enriched 20-fold in template activity for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase synthesis. With this RNA preparation, cell-free enzyme synthesis amounted to 5% of total mRNA-directed protein synthesis. The apparent sedimentation coefficient of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA in sucrose gradients was between 20 and 22 S, corresponding to an average molecular weight of 0.93 X 10(6). By formamide/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the molecular weight of the enzyme mRNA was estimated at between 0.91 X 10(6) and 1.12 X 10(6). From these estimates, it was concluded that considerable non-coding sequence(s) are present in the mRNA. Approximately 20% of the enzyme mRNA in rat liver failed to bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose, presumably because of the absence of a poly(A) segment. The translation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA by the wheat germ extract was inhibited in the presence of 7-methylguanosine 5'-phosphate. The enzyme mRNA appears therefore to have a 'cap' at the 5' end.

Isolation and characterization of poly(adenylic acid)-containing messenger ribonucleic acid from rat liver polysomes

Undegraded rat liver polysomes were obtained after homogenizing the tissue in a medium containing NH4Cl, heparine, and yeast tRNA. Purification of poly(A)-containing RNA from polysomal RNA was accomplished by affinity chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose columns. Poly(A)-containing RNA molecules were monitored by the formation of ribonuclease-resistant hybrids with [3H]poly(U). To improve the separation of messenger RNA and ribosomal RNA by oligo(dT)-cellulose it was found essential to dissociate the aggregates formed between both molecular species by heat treatment in the presence of dimethylsulfoxide (Me2SO) prior to chromatography. Sucrose gradient analysis under denaturing conditions showed that the preparations obtained were virtually free of ribosomal RNA. Poly(A)-containing RNA constituted approx. 2.2% of the total polysomal RNA and the number average size was 1500--1800 nucleotides, as judged by sedimentation analysis on sucrose density gradients containing Me2SO. Approximately 8.2% of the purified preparation obtained was able to anneal with [3H]poly(U); the number average nucleotide length of the poly(A) segment of the RNA population was calculated to be 133 adenylate residues. Based on these values, our preparations appear to be greater than 90% pure. The RNA fractions obtained after oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography were used to direct the synthesis of liver polypeptides in a heterologous cell-free system derived from wheat-germ. The system was optimized with respect to monovalent and divalent cations, and presence of polyamines (spermine). More than 65% of the translational activity present in the unfractionated polysomal RNA was recovered in the final poly(A)-containing RNA fraction. However, about 25% of the activity was found to be associated with the unbound fraction which was essentially free of poly(A)-containing RNA. Immunoprecipitation analysis with a specific antiserum to rat serum albumin demonstrated that about 6--8% of the labeled synthetic products translated from the poly(A)-containing RNA sample corresponded to serum albumin. Analysis of the translation products by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a heterogeneous distribution of molecular sizes ranging from 15 000 to greater than 70 000 daltons. Spermine not only increased the overall yield and extent of protein synthesis, but also resulted in higher yields of large protein products. Under optimal translation conditions a discrete peak representing about 7% of the total radioactivity was observed to migrate with rat serum albumin.

The synthesis of presumptive procollagen messenger ribonucleic acid in the calvaria of the developing chick embryo

The presumptive messenger RNAs for type I procollagen were isolated from chick embryo calvaria at various stages of development. Poly(A)-containing RNA fractions from denaturing sucrose gradients directed protein synthesis in a cell-free system derived from wheat germ. Procollagen mRNA activity was detected in a region of about 26 S. Approx. 80% of the labeled proline incorporated into cell-free product was susceptible to digestion by purified bacterial collagenase. The synthesis of procollagen mRNAs was followed during development. Comparison of the in vitro labeled mRNAs from calvaria of day 12--16 embryos indicated that the 26 S component was most pronounced at day 13 and decreased progressively towards day 16. In addition, incubation of calvaria with tritiated nucleosides for 1.5--25 h revealed that 26 S mRNA was significantly labeled only after prolonged periods. The results suggest that procollagen mRNA is a relatively stable species with a prolonged half-life compared to the majority of mRNAs in this tissue.