Messenger RNA for ribosomal proteins in dormant and developing Artemia salina embryos

Ribosomal proteins from Artemia salina have been separated in a two-dimensional acrylamide gel system and assigned to the small and large ribosomal subunits. Poly(A)-containing RNA was prepared from dormant cysts and from polysomes of 30 min, 1 h, 5 h and 12 h embryos and hatching larvae. The mRNA from different stages was translated in a wheat-germ lysate and its template activity for ribosomal proteins was analyzed. It was observed that mRNA activity for ribosomal proteins is stored in the cytoplasm of dormant cysts and that it is found associated with polysomes of 30 min and of later stages.