Untranslated mRNA for a chorion protein of Drosophila melanogaster accumulates transiently at the onset of specific gene amplification

Abstract

In the cytoplasm of follicular cells of female fruitflies, a messenger RNA for one of the chorion proteins accumulates prematurely (i.e, before in vivo synthesis of the protein) but is not associated with polysomes. Subsequently, this mRNA is rapidly degraded and, thus, is not stored for later use. At a later stage in choriogenesis, the same mRNA reappears, accumulates, associates with polysomes, and is translated into a chorion protein. The transient, premature accumulation of the mRNA occurs in concert with the onset of amplification of its specific gene, a finding suggestive of a functional coupling between the two events.