The mechanism of protein synthesis activation after fertilization of sea urchin eggs.

Upon fertilization of Paracentrotus lividus eggs, the ability of their ribosomes to form a ternary complex with poly(U) and phenylalanyl-tRNA is enhanced. In addition, it is possible to extract from ribosomes of the unfertilized egg a protein factor that inhibits polyphenylalanine synthesis by decreasing the binding of mRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA to the ribosomes. The observed increase in the rate of protein synthesis that occurs at fertilization could be accounted for by the removal of this inhibitory protein from the ribosomes.