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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Frontier of mRNA Research with Poly A Tail Analysis Techniques
Published on: January 12, 2024
Determinants and implications of mRNA poly(A) tail size--does this protein make my tail look big?
Aimee L Jalkanen1, Stephen J Coleman1, Jeffrey Wilusz1
1Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Abstract:
While the phenomenon of polyadenylation has been well-studied, the dynamics of poly(A) tail size and its impact on transcript function and cell biology are less well-appreciated. The goal of this review is to encourage readers to view the poly(A) tail as a dynamic, changeable aspect of a transcript rather than a simple static entity that marks the 3' end of an mRNA. This could open up new angles of regulation in the post-transcriptional control of gene expression throughout development, differentiation and cancer.
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