Poly A tail: Difference between revisions
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Created page with "= Poly A tail = The addition of a poly(A) tail is a modification to pre-MRNA at the 3' end. Most eukaryotic mRNAs contain a poly(A) tail after [[Tra..." |
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Revision as of 12:00, 29 November 2012
Poly A tail
The addition of a poly(A) tail is a modification to pre-MRNA at the 3' end. Most eukaryotic mRNAs contain a poly(A) tail after transcription. Polyadenylation is the process by which the tail is added. In this process a specfic endonuclease cleaves the RNA just downstream from a sequence 'AAUAAA, then following this cleavage a poly(A) polymerase adds aroud 250 adenylate residues forming the poly(A) tail, using ATP as the energy source. Once mRNA has this poly(A) tail it is deemed 'polyadenylated'. The function of the poly(A) tail has still not been fully discovered, but evidence suggets it improves translation effieciency and refines mRNA stability. Absence of the poly(A) tail does not prevent mRNA leaving the nucleus.[1]
References
- ↑ Berg J.M.,Stryer L, Tymoczko J.L. (2012) Biochemistry: International Edition, 7th Edition, New York: WH Freeman and company