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Sequences and efficiencies of proposed mRNA terminators

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An Erratum to this article was published on 02 February 1978

Abstract

THE base sequences at the 3′ end of the different messenger RNA molecules show a pattern of a GC-rich region followed by five to eight Us (refs 1,2). Gilbert's hypothesis1 that the stability of the template duplex DNA (or of the mRNA–DNA hybrid, or both) determines termination of transcription, implies that the DNA termination sequences, and thus the mRNA sequences at the 3′ end, are not unique. Rather, the DNA sequence of the template presumably expresses a certain structural stability, and this pattern of stabilities is responsible for the termination of transcription. Using these ideas we have found five (but only five) sequences in ΦX174 DNA which have a common pattern of stabilities with previous terminator sequences. These sequences are proposed to be responsible for termination of transcription in ΦX174. Three of the five sequences have five or six As following a GC region instead of the Ts present in known terminators. The lengths of mRNAs predicted on this basis are in excellent agreement with published observations; however, sequence determination of the messengers will be necessary to test our proposal rigorously.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biodynamics Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California, 94720

    JAMES E. MCMAHON & IGNACIO TINOCO JR

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  1. JAMES E. MCMAHON
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  2. IGNACIO TINOCO JR
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MCMAHON, J., TINOCO, I. Sequences and efficiencies of proposed mRNA terminators. Nature 271, 275–277 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271275a0

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