In vitro translation of major abundant class poly(a+)-mRNA from rat seminal vesicle

Total poly (A)-containing messenger RNA [poly(A)-mRNA_T] was isolated from seminal vesicles of adult male rats. By preparative 5%-20% linear sucrose gradient centrifugation in 1% SDS, a single peak was seen in the 11S region [poly(A)-mRNA_11S]. Poly (A)-mRNA_T and poly(A)-mRNA_11S were translated in the wheat germ S-30 in vitro translation system. Laemmli-SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis of translation products of poly(A)-mRNA_T revealed three major protein bands at approximately 18,500, 15,000, and 14,000 daltons. In vitro translation of poly(A)-mRNA_11S across the 11S peak revealed partial purification of the mRNAs for the three predominant proteins. The lower molecular weight part of the 11S peak enriched for the mRNAs coding for the 15,000 and 14,000 dalton polypeptides, and the higher molecular weight side of the peak enriched for the 18,500 dalton mRNA. The highly abundant class of mRNA from rat seminal vesicle can be purified with one sucrose gradient centrifugation.