Polyadenylylation helps regulate mRNA decay in Escherichia coli.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.6.1807
• Publication Date: 2006-05-31T13:29:22Z
• Authors: E B O'Hara; J A Chekanova; C A Ingle; Z R Kushner; E Peters; S R Kushner
• Keywords: Polynucleotide phosphorylase; RNase H; Transcription

As part of our genetic analysis mRNA decay in Escherichia coli K-12, we examined the effect pcnB gene [encoding poly(A) polymerase I] on message stability. Eliminating I (delta pcnB) dramatically stabilized lpp, ompA, and trxA transcripts. The half-lives individual mRNAs were increased both a delta single mutant pnp-7 rnb-500 rne-1 multiple mutant. We also found intermediates mutants that not detected control strains. By end-labeling total E. RNA with [32P]pCp T4 ligase then digesting RNase A T1, showed many RNAs wild-type strain contained tails ranging from 10 nt to > 50 long. When polynucleotide phosphorylase, II, E absent, length (> 100 nt) number (10- 20-fold) increased. After transcription initiation was stopped rifampicin, polyadenylylation apparently continued. Deleting structural for (pcnB) reduced amount 3'-terminal sequences by 90%. propose model role decay.