Biopolymers and cell. 2001; 17 (2): 93 - 108

mRNA polyadenylation. 1. 3'-end formation of vertebrates' mRNAs

M. I. Zarudnaya

In this review the contemporary understanding of a process of the 3'-end formation of vertebrates' mRNAs is summarized. The protein factors taking part in the reaction, and the signal sequences in pre-mRNAs guiding the process are characterized. The process of polyadenylation complex formation is analyzed. The relation be¬tween polyadenylation, on one hand, and transcription and splicing, on the other hand, is considered. The examples of the regulation of the polyadenylation reaction are given. The author proposes more strict definition of downstream signal than that available in literature.