Does 3'-terminal poly(A) stabilize human fibroblast interferon mRNA in oocytes of Xenopus laevis?

Polynucleotide phosphorylase (polyribonucleotide:orthophosphate nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.8) purified from Escherichia coli was used enzymatically to deadenylate polyadenylated human fibroblast interferon mRNA preparations obtained from human diploid fibroblasts (FS-4 strain) induced by poly(I)-poly(C) (20 microgram/ml) in the presence of cycloheximide (50 microgram/ml, 4 hr). Both the polyadenylated and the deadenylated interferon mRNA preparations were translated into biologically active human interferon when injected into oocytes of Xenopus laevis. In the oocytes the functional stability of deadenylated interferon mRNA was indistinguishable from that of polyadenylated interferon mRNA.