Preparation of Pancreatic mRNA: Cell-Free Translation of an Insulin-Immunoreactive Polypeptide

Abstract

Total nucleic acid extraction and selection of poly A-containing molecules yield preparative quantities of undegraded mRNA from adult and fetal pancreas. Using a stringent inmtunoassay, this mRNA is found to direct the synthesis of an immunoreactive insulin polypeptide in the wheat germ translation system. On sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels, this polypeptide (12, 000-13,000 daltons) is larger than proinsulin (9,000 daltons). © 1976 Information Retrieval Limited.