poly-A tail

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Introduction

About 250 A residues added to the 3' end of mRNA.

The poly-A site is determined by the AAUAAA signal sequence in the mRNA.

The role of the poly A tail is an enigma. mRNA without a poly-A tail can be transported out of the nucleus & it serves an effective template for protein synthesis. mRNAs for histone proteins do not have a poly-A tail.

More general terms

Additional terms

References

  1. Biochemistry, L. Stryer, WH Freeman & Co, New York, 1988 pg 721