IDENTIFICATION OF NEW LOCALIZED RNAS IN THE XENOPUS OOCYTE BY DIFFERENTIAL DISPLAY PCR

We have identified localized transcripts in full-grown Xenopus oocytes by differential display PCR. One clone, An4a, has two transcripts, wh ich localize to the animal half of the stage VI oocyte. The transcript s are expressed throughout early development, with embryonic expressio n primarily in anterior neural tissues. An4a has a high degree of sequ ence identity to a human cDNA clone of unknown function. Another clone , the previously identified beta-transducin repeat containing protein (beta-TrCP), has three transcripts with a unique pattern of localizati on, one localized to the animal half and two localized primarily to th e vegetal cortex. This cDNA has previously been shown to rescue a yeas t cell division cycle mutant, raising the possibility that the differe nt Xenopus transcripts are involved in animal and vegetal cell cycles. Embryonic expression is primarily in the cement gland. These new loca lized transcripts contribute to the general observation that the veget al cortex, but not the animal cortex, is a specific site for RNA local ization. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.