The end of the message: 3'– end processing leading to polyadenylated messenger RNA
Abstract
Almost all messenger RNAs carry a polyadenylate tail that is added in a post-transcriptional reaction. In the nuclei of animal cells, the 3'-end of the RNA is formed by endonucleolytic cleavage of the primary transcript at the site of poly(A) addition, followed by the polymerisation of the tail. The reaction depends on specific RNA sequences upstream as well as downstream of the polyadenylation site. Cleavage and polyadenylation can be uncoupled in vitro. Polyadenylation is carried out by poly(A) polymerase with the aid of a specificity factor that binds the polyadenylation signal AAUAAA. Several additional factors are required for the initial cleavage. A newly discovered poly(A)-binding protein stimulates poly(A) tail synthesis and may be involved in the control of tail length. Polyadenylation reactions different from this scheme, either in other organisms or under special physiological circumstances, are discussed.
Related Papers
- → Protein factors in pre-mRNA 3′-end processing(2007)422 cited
- → In vitro cleavage of the simian virus 40 early polyadenylation site adjacent to a required downstream TG sequence.(1986)35 cited
- → Sequences on the 3' side of hexanucleotide AAUAAA affect efficiency of cleavage at the polyadenylation site.(1984)113 cited
- → Sequences downstream of AAUAAA signals affect pre-mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation in vitro both directly and indirectly.(1989)24 cited
- → Four factors are required for 3'-end cleavage of pre-mRNAs.(1989)223 cited