The Xenopus OAX genes can be expressed in oocytes but are virtually inactive in somatic tissues. The tRNAMetl (tMET) genes also appear to be developmentally regulated. We have examined the reason for the differential expression of these class III genes. Analysis of the transcriptional activities of extracts derived from immature and mature oocytes revealed that the developmental regulation of these genes can be reproduced in vitro. We have partially purified the required transcription factors B and C from these extracts to ascertain the components responsible for this differential activity. The immature oocyte C fraction activates the tMET and OAX genes when reconstituted with either the immature or mature oocyte-derived B fraction. In contrast, the mature oocyte C fraction fails to activate these genes regardless of which B fraction is used. Both C fractions activated the somatic 5S gene. Purification of the oocyte C fractions by phosphocellulose or B box DNA affinity chromatography failed to separate additional activities responsible for the differential expression of OAX or tMET. By using template exclusion assays, the inability of the mature oocyte C fraction to activate transcription was correlated with an inability to form stable transcription complexes with the tMET or OAX gene.A central question in development biology concerns the mechanisms which bring about stage-specific gene expression. The Xenopus class III system provides several examples of genes which are expressed specifically in oocytes. The developmental regulation of the oocyte 5S gene has been studied in detail (for reviews, see references 16 and 36). However, the mechanisms governing the oocyte-specific expression of non-SS genes, such as OAX and tRNAMetl (tMET), are not well understood. In this study, we undertook an analysis of the factors responsible for this developmental regulation. The class III system provides a means to dissect the transcription factors responsible for stage-specific gene expression, in that the polymerase III (pol III) factors can be partially purified and recombined to reconstitute efficient transcription in vitro. At least two components, TFIIIB (factor B) and TFIIIC (factor C), are required to direct correct initiation by RNA pol III on tRNA-type class III genes (43; reviewed in 16, 36, and 45). A third factor, TFIIIA (factor A), is additionally required for transcription of 5S RNA genes (13). There is recent evidence, obtained with the Bombyx system, for an additional component of class III transcription complexes, TFIIIR, which is composed of RNA rather than protein (58).The tRNA-type promoter consists of two separable elements of -10 bp each, known as the A box and B box (16,36,45). Binding by factor C to the B box promoter element permits subsequent association by factor B, which in turn stabilizes the complex (27,32,44). For the 5S RNA gene, which lacks a B box sequence element, initial binding by factor A to the 50-bp internal promoter facilitates binding by factor C, apparently through protein-protein con...