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H Denis

Publications and source records attributed to H Denis.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Biochemical research on oogenesis. Nucleotide sequence of initiator tRNA from oocytes and from somatic cells of Xenopus laevis.

The nucleotide sequence of initiator tRNA, tRNAfMet, from vitellogenic oocytes of Xenopus laevis was determined. The sequence was deduced from analysis of all T1 and pancreatic oligonucleotides and comparison with the sequence of initiator tRNA from other animal species. At least 80% of all initiator tRNA molecules from oocytes have the same nucleotide sequence. This means that most and probably all initiator tRNA genes which are active in oocytes are identical to one another. No structural difference was observed between liver and oocyte initiator tRNAs. Initiator tRNA from X. laevis has the same nucleotide sequence as initiator tRNA from several species of mammals. The genes coding for this RNA have therefore remained unchanged in the mammalian and amphibian lines for at least 300000000 years.

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Biochemical research on oogenesis. Comparison between transfer RNAs from somatic cells and from oocytes in Xenopus laevis.

The properties of tRNA from oocytes of Xenopus laevis were compared with those of tRNA from somatic cells of the same species. Both types of tRNAs were found to have the same average length and to contain an equal variety of modified nucleotides. However, tRNA from small oocytes differed from somatic tRNA by its chromatographic behavior on methylated-albumin kieselguhr columns. The elution profiles from reversed-phase chromatography 5 columns of several aminoacyl tRNAs were compared after charging somatic and oocyte tRNSs with 3H or 14C-labelled amino acids. Striking differences in peak position were observed when tRNA from small oocytes was mixed and co-chromatographed with somatic tRNA. The differences were less important when tRNAs from large oocytes and from somatic cells were compared. Mixtures of egg and somatic tRNAs gave completely or almost completely coincident elution profiles. Only one isoacceptor, tNRA1Met (initiator tRNA) had the same position in all reversed-phase chromatography 5 chromatograms. The results are discussed in terms of possible post-transcriptional modifications of tRNA in the course of oogenesis. An alternative explanation resorting to changes in the tRNA population of the growing oocyte is also envisaged.

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