Noncoordinate regulation of cytoplasmic RNA in compensatory renal hypertrophy

To examine the regulatory role of mRNA in compensatory renal hypertrophy, the accumulation and decay of [3H]orotic acid in poly(A)-containing mRNA in mouse kidney was analyzed after unilateral nephrectomy during the period of maximal rRNA accretion. The distribution of radioactivity between newly synthesized poly(A)-containing and poly(A)-lacing polysomal RNA was altered, but no differences in mRNA half-life were observed in growth compared with effects of sham nephrectomy. Radioactivity in polysomal polyadenylated RNA was diminished by approximately 25% during growth where mice were labeled after nephrectomy, but if mice were labeled 18 h before operation, no difference was noted. Thus, accumulation of newly synthesized poly(A)-containing mRNA relative to RNAs that lack poly(A) is changed early in the course of renal hypertrophy. This noncoordinate regulation may represent a control mechanism effective early in induced cell growth involving mRNAs that lack poly(A).