title: Differential stability of c-myc mRNAS in a cell-free system.
abstract: We have developed a simple cell-free system for studying the stability of different mRNAs in vitro. We demonstrate that the threefold greater stability in vivo of truncated c-myc mRNA (lacking exon 1) compared with that of full-length c-myc mRNA is maintained in our in vitro system. Chimeric mRNAs in which the first exon of c-myc was fused to immunoglobulin C alpha heavy chain or glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNAs were not rapidly degraded, demonstrating that c-myc exon 1 alone is not sufficient to tag mRNAs for rapid degradation. Competition experiments show that full-length c-myc mRNA is specifically recognized by a factor(s) responsible for its rapid degradation. This system will allow further characterization and purification of these factors.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002678:Chimera; D005091:Exons; D006207:Half-Life; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D010954:Plasmacytoma; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger