Consequences of mRNA Secondary Structure on Stability against both Hydrolysis and Aggregation: The Role of Electrostatic, π-π Stacking, and Thermal Effects.

ABSTRACT: The seemingly unrelated massive aggregation of free mRNA under certain solution conditions and the well-known autohydrolysis of mRNA are actually both closely linked through its secondary and possibly tertiary structure (s/t). This hypothesis posits that s/t partially stabilizes mRNA against both autohydrolysis and massive aggregation. Destabilization of s/t via denaturant guanidine-HCl (Gd), or temperature, has profound effects on both aggregation rates and final degree of autohydrolysis. These denaturant effects occurred for a variety of mRNA, ranging from 700 to 3000 nucleotides but showed very different quantitative behavior among themselves, suggesting some of the methods presented here might help characterize mRNA stability and robustness. Light scattering monitoring during dialysis

SUBMITTER: Jarand CW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12854604 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature