An investigation into the mechanisms and function of alternative polyadenylation in S. cerevisiae

mRNA is the intermediary molecule between proteins and the DNA that encodes them. The 3′ untranslated region of the mRNA is involved in regulating its function and can affect the stability and localisation of the mRNA within the cell as well as how much protein is produced. In this study we show that the length of the 3’ untranslated region in yeast cells can be increased through mutation of the 3’ end processing proteins or treatment with the anti-cancer drug cordycepin, which we show increases the speed at which mRNA are produced.