mRNA stability and the control of gene expression

S A Liebhaber1

  • 1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Department of Genetics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Summary

mRNA stability is crucial for gene expression, influenced by structure and protein interactions. Globin mRNA

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Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
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Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability