Escherichia coli g1yA mRNA decay: The role of 3′ secondary structure and the effects of the pnp and rnb mutations

Abstract
The Escherichia coli glyA structural gene is followed by two REP sequences and a rho-independent transcription terminator. These sequences are essential for maintaining glyA mRNA stability and gene expression by blocking the 3′ to 5′ exonucleolytic activities of polynucleotide phosphorylase and ribonuclease II. The results support the model of cooperative endonucleolytic and 3′ to 5′ exonucleolytic activities in mRNA decay.