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Rabbit globin mRNA species containing poly(A) segments of different lengths were prepared by partial phosphorolysis of mRNA with Escherichia coli polynucleotide phosphorylase. By varying the salt concentration and the time of incubation of the phosphorolysis mixture, as well as performing oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography at 22 degrees C and at 4 degrees C, globin mRNA preparations containing poly(A) segments of approximately 122, 95, 68, 39, 32, 21, and 16 adenylate residues were obtained. It was found that the functional stability of the mRNA species containing 32 or more adenylate residues after injection into Xenopus laevis oocytes equaled that of the native globin mRNA. On the other hand, the functional stability of mRNA containing an average number of 21 adenylate residues was about 30% of the native mRNA, while that of mRNA containing 16 adenylate residues was as low as poly(A)-free globin MRNA.
Nudel et al. (Thu,) studied this question.