over time, and, when it is short enough, the mRNA is enzymatically degraded. However, in a few cell types, mRNAs with short poly(A) tails are stored for later activation by re-polyadenylation in the cytosol. In contrast, when polyadenylation occurs in bacteria, it promotes RNA degradation. This is also sometimes the case for eukaryotic non-coding RNAs.

mRNA molecules in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have polyadenylated 3´-ends, with the prokaryotic poly(A) tails generally shorter and fewer mRNA