Polyadenine

Polyadenine is a nucleic acid polymer composed of adenine ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides. In biology, it refers to a sequence of adenine bases. A common biological example is the poly-A tail, a string of adenine nucleotides added to the 3' end of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules in eukaryotes. This poly-A tail plays a crucial role in mRNA stability, nuclear export, and translation initiation. The length of the poly-A tail can vary and is regulated by cellular processes.

In synthetic biology and research, polyadenine can be synthesized chemically or enzymatically. These synthetic polynucleotides are used in various applications, such as studying nucleic acid-protein interactions, developing diagnostic tools, and as components in gene therapy vectors. The ability to create specific polyadenine sequences allows researchers to investigate their functional properties and engineer novel biological systems. The term can also refer to an artificial strand of adenine bases used in experimental settings. The properties of polyadenine, such as its charge and ability to form secondary structures, are influenced by the length of the polymer and the specific type of nucleotide (RNA or DNA).