Evidence that the 5' end of rabbit globin mRNA is hybridized with its 3' end

Abstract

• 1.

  1. A radiopolyadenylated rabbit globin mRNA was treated with different concentrations of ribonuclease V₁ from cobra venom.

• 2.

  2. The enzymatic digests were chromatographed on an aminophenylboronate-agarose column, which specifically captured the cap structure i.e. n⁷G(5') ppp (5') NmP.

• 3.

  3. When the capture fragment was chromatographed on a Sephadex G-100 column, its size was smaller than the native molecule and also bore radioactivity, i.e. a poly(A) tail.

• 4.

  4. These results provide evidence that the 5' end (which encompasses the cap structure) of rabbit globin mRNA is hybridized and in close proximity to its 3' end.

• 5.

  5. We conclude that this conformation is required for messenger translation efficiency.