Cloned DNA sequences that determine mRNA stability of bacteriophage phi X174 in vivo are functional.

The stability of two species of phi X174 polycistronic mRNA in vivo can be altered by mutating sequences existing immediately upstream of a termination site. The wild type phage contains an mRNA stabilizing sequence ((+) sequence), while the same sequence mutated by insertion ((-) sequence) reduces the stability of the mRNAs. These two sequences were cloned at the 3' ends of gene D or gene B of phi X174 in a pBR322 derivative plasmid. The cloned sequences were functional. The (+) sequence stabilized gene B or gene D mRNA; half-lives of these mRNAs were 7 to 8 min. When the (+) sequence is eliminated ((o) sequence) or replaced with the (-) sequence, the half-lives of the mRNA were reduced to about 1 to 2 min. The stabilization of mRNAs caused an increased production of these proteins.