Messenger ribonucleic acid metabolism in mammalian mitochondria: relationship between the decay of mitochondrial mRNA and their poly(A).

The mitochondrial poly(adenylic acid)-containing mRNAs in mouse ascites cells pulsed with radioactive precursors contain 35-55 nucleotide long poly(adenylic acid) sequences. These sequences are shortened with age in cells chased with cold medium. The possible relationship between the decay rates of mRNA and their poly(adenylic acid) sequences has been investigated by using mitochondrial RNA and protein synthesis inhibitors. The pattern of mRNA decay as determined by a new solid-phase-bound complementary DNA procedure indicates the presence of two classes of poly(adenylic acid) containing mRNA in mammalian mitochondria: one decaying with a t1/2 of 45 min and the other class with a t1/2 of 210 min. Inhibitors such as ethidium bromide and puromycin which accelerate the decay of mitochondrial mRNA also cause an enhanced decay of poly(adenylic acid) sequences. These results have been interpreted as evidence supporting the involvement of poly(adenylic acid) sequences in the mRNA stability.