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Definition

noun

The synthesis of a poly a tail at the end of an RNA molecule.

Supplement

The adding of a poly-A stretch at the end of mRNA helps protect the mRNA from degradation by exonucleases in the cytoplasm, and also helps in transcription termination, export of the mRNA from the nucleus, and translation.

The process is catalyzed by the enzyme, polyadenylate polymerase (PAP).

See also: adenine, mRNA.