Expression and stability of recombinant RQ‐mRNAs in cell‐free translation systems

Abstract
Expression of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) mRNAs in cell-free Escherichia coli translation systems is greatly enhanced as a result of their insertion into RQ135 RNA, a naturally occurring satellite of phage Qβ. The enhancement is due to protection of the recombinant mRNAs against endogenous ribonucleases and to an increased initial rate of translation in the case of the RQ-CAT mRNA