Differential degradation of messenger RNAs in mammalian cells

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.73.8.2634· OSTI ID:7354830

Stiles, C D; Lee, K L; Kenney, F T

Through the use of an assay that measures cellular capacity for specific enzyme synthesis, mRNA of alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2; l-alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase) was found to be degraded with a half-life of 12--14 hr in cultured Reuber H-35 cells; mRNA of tyrosine aminotransferase (EC 2.61.5; l-tyrosine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase) has a half-life of 2 hr in the same cells. Rates of degradation of the mRNAs are the same whether new mRNA accumulation is blocked by removal of the steroid inducer or by inhibition of mRNA synthesis (actinomycin). Cycloheximide inhibits the normally rapid turnover of tyrosine aminotransferase mRNA, but agents such as puromycin and sodium fluoride, which disrupt polysome structure, do not alter the turnover rate of the tyrosine and alanine aminotransferase mRNAs. The tyrosine and alanine aminotransferase mRNAs appear to be translated at equivalent rates. The data suggest that the degradation rate of these two mRNAs is determined by the polynucleotide structure of the mRNA molecules at or near the site for ribosome binding and initiation.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Tennessee, Oak Ridge
• OSTI ID: 7354830
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 73:8; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
AMINOTRANSFERASES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANTIBIOTICS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CYCLOHEXIMIDE
DECOMPOSITION
DRUGS
ENZYMES
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FUNGICIDES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
KINETICS
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
PUROMYCIN
REACTION KINETICS
RNA
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM FLUORIDES
TRANSFERASES