Polyadenylation-specific complexes undergo a transition early in the polymerization of a poly(A) tail

We have analyzed several properties of the complex that forms between RNAs that end at the poly(A) site of simian virus 40 late mRNA and factors present in a HeLa cell nuclear extract. Formation of this polyadenylation-specific complex requires the sequence AAUAAA and a proximal 3' end. We have observed three changes in the polyadenylation complex early in the addition of the poly(A) tail. First, the complex becomes heparin sensitive after the addition of approximately 10 adenosines. Second, a 68-kilodalton protein present in the complex, which can be cross-linked by UV light to the RNA before polyadenylation has begun, no longer can be cross-linked after approximately 10 adenosines have been added. Third, after 30 adenosines have been added, the AAUAAA sequence becomes accessible to a complementary oligonucleotide and RNase H. This accessibility gradually increases with longer poly(A) tail lengths until, with the addition of 60 A's, all substrates are accessible at AAUAAA. Sheets and Wickens (Genes Dev. 3:1401-1412, 1989) have recently demonstrated two phases in the addition of a poly(A) tail: the first requires AAUAAA, whereas the second is independent of AAUAAA but requires a short oligo(A) primer. The data reported here further support a biphasic model for poly(A) addition and may indicate disengagement of specific factors from AAUAAA after the initiation phase.