Heterogenous
Nuclear
RNA
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hnRNA - Eukaryote cells synthesize heterogenous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) which has been considered to be the precursor of mRNA. Only some hnRNA, however, serves as precursor of mRNA. Most of the hnRNA synthesized in eukaryote cells is rapidly degraded without becoming mRNA.
Heterogenous nuclear RNA is defined as all nuclear RNA, excluding rRNA having a sedimentation coefficient greater than 8S (Weinberg, 1973). Ribosomal RNA from mammalian cells has a high G+C content, while the G+C content of hnRNA is considerably lower. About 20-40% of hnRNA molecules are polyadenylated in mammlian cells.





