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Polyadenylic Acid Segment in mRNA Becomes Shorter with Age

Nature New Biology volume 241, pages 265–268 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

POLYADENYLIC acid, poly (A), which was discovered some time ago in mammalian cells1,2, originates in the cell nucleus as part of HnRNA* and is also found in mRNA in the cell cyto-plasm3–7. These findings have focused interest on the possible nuclear role of poly (A) in the biogenesis of mRNA8. It might also be anticipated that the poly (A) sequences have a cytoplasmic function because certain RNA viruses that replicate independently of the nucleus have a poly (A) segment as part of the viral mRNA4,9,10. Therefore we have investigated the fate of poly (A) sequences during the course of the functioning of mRNA in the cytoplasm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, 10027

    DIANA SHEINESS & JAMES E. DARNELL

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  1. DIANA SHEINESS
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  2. JAMES E. DARNELL
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SHEINESS, D., DARNELL, J. Polyadenylic Acid Segment in mRNA Becomes Shorter with Age. Nature New Biology 241, 265–268 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio241265a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio241265a0

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