The role of ribosomes in stabilizing bacteriophage T4 deoxynucleotide kinase mRNA [formula omitted

Abstract

In the present investigation, an approach toward defining the role of ribosomes in stabilizing functional messenger RNA in cell-free extracts is described. The data presented show that initiation of protein synthesis is necessary for maximal functional stability of bacteriophage T4 deoxynucleotide kinase mRNA in vitro and suggest that much of the stability is attained by interaction of the deoxynucleotide kinase mRNA initiation site with a 30S ribosomal subunit. Data is also presented which suggest that any of several E . coli ribonucleases could serve as a messenger ribonuclease in vivo .