Two sequential waves of mRNA translation drive embryonic development

2025 · doi:10.1101/2025.09.18.676998
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-16 ⓘ

This study reveals sequential mRNA translation waves, initiated by ewsr1b, that coordinate protein function and developmental progression by regulating zygotic genome activation.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-16 · read from full text ⓘ

The study investigated how embryonic development coordinates temporal and spatial translation of maternally stored dormant mRNAs after fertilization. Using an embryonic model system, the authors identified two sequential waves of mRNA translation: an early wave within 1 hour that required translation of ewsr1b mRNA with a short 3′UTR, and a later wave driven by the resulting Ewsr1b protein binding cytoplasmic mRNAs such as pou5f3 to promote zygotic genome activation. They report that HuR and Syncrip repress translation until the appropriate wave (HuR before the first wave and Syncrip before the second), and that extending the ewsr1b 3′UTR shifts its translation to the second wave and changes protein localization and function. The paper’s limitation is that it focuses on embryonic translation timing mechanisms rather than directly addressing disease contexts. The paper does not explicitly discuss endometriosis or adenomyosis; it was included in the corpus via a keyword match in the upstream search index.

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Abstract

SUMMARY Eggs of many species accumulate thousands of dormant mRNAs that are translated after fertilization at specific times and locations to direct development. However, how embryos coordinate translation of these mRNAs remains unclear. In this study, we identified sequential waves of translation critical for proper development progression. The first wave occurred within 1 h and included translation of ewsr1b mRNA that harbored a short 3′ untranslated region (UTR) comprising 16 nucleotides. The resulting Ewsr1b protein triggered the second translation wave through binding cytoplasmic mRNAs, including pou5f3 , which encodes a transcription factor promoting zygotic genome activation. In contrast, HuR and Syncrip repressed translation until the first and second waves, respectively. ewsr1b mRNA that had a long 3′UTR was translated in the second wave, and the 3′UTR’s length determined protein localization and function. Overall, our findings reveal previously unknown molecular principles that coordinate translation timings and protein functions to drive long-term, multilayered processes.
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SUMMARY Eggs of many species accumulate thousands of dormant mRNAs that are translated after fertilization at specific times and locations to direct development. However, how embryos coordinate translation of these mRNAs remains unclear. In this study, we identified sequential waves of translation critical for proper development progression. The first wave occurred within 1 h and included translation of ewsr1b mRNA that harbored a short 3′ untranslated region (UTR) comprising 16 nucleotides. The resulting Ewsr1b protein triggered the second translation wave through binding cytoplasmic mRNAs, including pou5f3, which encodes a transcription factor promoting zygotic genome activation. In contrast, HuR and Syncrip repressed translation until the first and second waves, respectively. ewsr1b mRNA that had a long 3′UTR was translated in the second wave, and the 3′UTR’s length determined protein localization and function. Overall, our findings reveal previously unknown molecular principles that coordinate translation timings and protein functions to drive long-term, multilayered processes. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Footnotes Section on Results has been updated to clarify functions of Ewsr1b, Syncrip and HuR. Figures 1, 4, 5, 7 have been revised.

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last seen: 2026-05-20T01:45:00.602351+00:00