Stability of non-polyadenylated viral mRNAs injected into frog oocytes.

The naturally non-polyadenylated mRNAs of reovirus were shown to have a half-life in excess of 3 days when injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes. Hybridization analysis and gel electrophoresis showed that all 10 mRNA species had a similar high stability, despite being translated at widely differing rates. We have confirmed previous findings indicating a role for the 5'-terminal cap structure in determining reovirus mRNA stability [Furuichi et al. (1977) Nature (Lond.) 266, 235-239]. The significance of these results in relation to a general role for poly(A) in messenger RNA function is discussed.