Messenger and heterogeneous nuclear RNA in HeLa cells: differential inhibition by cordycepin

Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) suppresses the labeling of messenger RNA in HeLa cells. The drug has no effect on either the labeling of nuclear heterogeneous RNA or on the transport of messenger RNA into the cytoplasm. The results suggest that messenger RNA and nuclear heterogeneous RNA are synthesized separately, and that the transcription of messenger RNA is inhibited by the drug.