Localized XId3 mRNA activation in Xenopus embryos by cytoplasmic ployadenylation

In Xenopus development, during meiosis and cleavage, the extent of polyadenylation plays a central role in regulating the expression of transcripts and this is mediated by cis regulatory cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements (CPE) in the 3'-UTRs. We have identified a palindromic CPE in the mRNA of Xenopus Id3 which is conserved in the Id genes from other vertebrates. It promotes cytoplasmic polyadenylation and is negatively regulated by sequences further upstream in the 3'-UTR. This palindromic CPE promotes polyadenylation in both the epithelial and sensorial layers of the dorsal ectoderm in early embryos, but association with the upstream negative element blocks this effect in the epithelial layer. The asymmetric polyadenylation may be important for establishing a prepattern of transcriptional regulators.