Regulation of ATF1 and ATF2 transcripts by sequences in their 3' untranslated region in cleavage-stage cattle embryos.

The sequence of a 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of mRNA governs the timing of its polyadenylation and translation in mammalian oocytes and early embryos. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of cis-elements in the 3'UTR of the developmentally important ATF1 and ATF2 transcripts on their timely translation during first cleavages in bovine embryos. Eight different reporter mRNAs (coding sequence of green fluorescent protein [GFP] fused to the 3'UTR of short or long isoforms of cattle ATF1 or -2, with or without polyadenylation) or a control GFP mRNA were microinjected separately into presumptive bovine zygotes at 18 hr post-insemination (hpi), followed by epifluorescence assessment for GFP translation between 24 and 80 hpi (expressed as percentage of GFP-positive embryos calculated from the total number of individuals). The presence of either polyadenine or 3'UTR sequence in deadenylated constructs is required for GFP translation (implying the need for polyadenylation), and all exogenous mRNAs that met either criteria were translated as soon as 24 hpi-except for long-deadenylated ATF2-UTR, whose translation began at 36 hpi. Overall, GFP was more visibly translated in competent (cleaving) embryos, particularly in long ATF1/2 constructs. The current data shows a timely GFP translation in bovine embryos depending on sequences in the 3'UTR of ATF1/2, and indicates a difference between short and long isoforms. In addition, cleaving embryos displayed increased translational capacity of the tested constructs. Functional confirmation of the identification cis-sequences in the 3'UTR of ATF1/2 will contribute to the understanding of maternal mRNA translation regulation during early cattle development.