Regulation of c-myc mRNA Half-Life by an RNA-Binding Protein

c-myc mRNA contains at least two discrete sequence elements that account for its short half-life, one in the 3′-untranslated region, the other in the carboxy terminal coding region (coding region determinant). A combination of experiments with cell-free extracts and intact cells suggests that the coding region determinant interacts with an abundant RNA-binding protein that, when bound to the mRNA, protects it from endonucleolytic attack. The mRNA-protein complex might serve as a fail-safe mechanism to permit rapid c-myc mRNA destruction at certain times.