Stabilization of microRNAs, like mRNAs, by adenylation. It is well known that mRNAs are stabilized by polyadenylation, a posttranscriptional modification that is dependent on multiple protein factors. For p53, cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein (CPEB) is necessary for polyadenylation. Similarly, microRNAs can be stabilized by modification at the 3′ terminus by monoadenylation; shown is the Gld-2-dependent adenylation of miR-122. Gld-2 mediated miR-122 stabilization results in increased miR-122, decreased CPEB, and less stabilization of p53. Conversely, decreased Gld-2 (or decreased miR-122) results in increased CPEB protein levels and activity, thus increasing p53 mRNA stability and promoting senescence.