Stability of CAT gene transcript depends on the 3'-end structure.

To determine the involvement of 3'-end structure of mRNA in the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cell, a series of pSCAT plasmids was constructed with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene and the 3'-regulatory elements from various eukaryotic genes. As a result of determination of the CAT activities and the mRNA level generated from these plasmids, both results were well correlated. Furthermore, the treatment of transfected cells with phorbol ester (TPA) revealed that the polyadenylated CAT mRNAs form some genes were stabilized, in contrast, the mRNAs bearing 3'-end structure of histone or C-myc genes were not.