Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Frontier of mRNA Research with Poly A Tail Analysis Techniques
Published on: January 12, 2024
A unique poly(A) tail profile uncovers the stability and translational activation of TOP transcripts during neuronal
Marine Baptissart1, Brian N Papas2, Ru-Pin Alicia Chi1
1Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC 27709, USA.
Abstract:
Cell differentiation is associated with global changes in translational activity. Here, we characterize how mRNA poly(A) tail processing supports this dynamic. We observe that decreased translation during neuronal differentiation of P19 cells correlates with the downregulation of 5'-terminal oligopyrimidine (TOP) transcripts which encode the translational machinery. Despite their downregulation, TOP transcripts remain highly stable and show increased translation as cells differentiate. Changes in TOP mRNA metabolism are reflected by their accumulation with poly(A) tails ∼60-nucleotide (nt) long. The dynamic changes in poly(A) processing can be partially recapitulated by depleting LARP1 or activating the mTOR pathway in undifferentiated cells. Although mTOR-induced accumulation of TOP mRNAs with tails ∼60-nt long does not trigger differentiation, it is associated with reduced proliferation of neuronal progenitors. We propose that while TOP mRNAs are transcriptionally silenced, their post-transcriptional regulation mediated by a specific poly(A) processing ensures an adequate supply of ribosomes to complete differentiation.
Related Concept Videos
Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
pre-mRNA Processing
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps
RNA Stability
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing
The chromatin structure, especially...
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability

