Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Measurement of mRNA Decay Rates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Using rpb1-1 Strains
12:21

Measurement of mRNA Decay Rates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Using rpb1-1 Strains

Published on: December 13, 2014

The efficiency of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay is an inherent character and varies among different cells

Liat Linde1, Stephanie Boelz, Gabriele Neu-Yilik

  • 1Department of Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.

European Journal of Human Genetics : EJHG
|July 13, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) efficiency varies between cells, impacting gene expression. This study shows NMD efficiency is an inherent cellular trait, not limited to specific cell types like CF patient cells.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a crucial cellular surveillance pathway that degrades aberrant transcripts with premature termination codons (PTCs).
  • Previous research indicated variable NMD efficiency in nasal epithelial cells from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, affecting CFTR transcript levels.
  • The extent to which NMD efficiency variability is a general phenomenon across different cell types remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if variable NMD efficiency is a widespread cellular characteristic beyond CF patient-derived nasal cells.
  • To determine if NMD efficiency differences observed in CF cells are also present in common laboratory cell lines.
  • To explore the implications of NMD efficiency as a potential inherent cellular property.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of NMD efficiency using constructs with PTCs (CFTR W1282X and beta-globin NS39) in HeLa and MCF7 cells.
  • Assessment of NMD efficiency for endogenous physiologic transcripts in the same cell lines.
  • Comparative analysis of NMD efficiency between HeLa and MCF7 cells.

Main Results:

  • Significant variability in NMD efficiency was observed for both introduced PTC-containing constructs (CFTR and beta-globin) between HeLa and MCF7 cells.
  • HeLa cells exhibited highly efficient NMD, while MCF7 cells demonstrated significantly lower NMD efficiency.
  • Similar differences in NMD efficiency were noted for five endogenous NMD target transcripts across the cell lines.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular NMD efficiency is not uniform and appears to be an inherent characteristic of individual cells.
  • Variability in NMD efficiency is a general phenomenon, extending beyond specific disease contexts or cell types.
  • The inherent variability in NMD efficiency may function as a genetic modifier influencing diverse cellular processes and gene expression levels.

More Related Videos

Determining Genome-wide Transcript Decay Rates in Proliferating and Quiescent Human Fibroblasts07:03

Determining Genome-wide Transcript Decay Rates in Proliferating and Quiescent Human Fibroblasts

Published on: January 2, 2018

Metabolic Labeling of Newly Transcribed RNA for High Resolution Gene Expression Profiling of RNA Synthesis, Processing and Decay in Cell Culture11:00

Metabolic Labeling of Newly Transcribed RNA for High Resolution Gene Expression Profiling of RNA Synthesis, Processing and Decay in Cell Culture

Published on: August 8, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay02:27

Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay

The Upf proteins that carry out nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) are found in all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Each protein has an individual role, but they need to work in collaboration. Upf1 is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that unwinds the RNA helix. Because Upf1 can unwind any RNA, Upf2 and Upf3 are required to help Upf1 discriminate between nonsense and normal mRNAs.
Usually, Upf3 binds to an Exon Junction Complex (EJC) at mRNA splice sites. If a ribosome fully translates the mRNA,...
Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay02:27

Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay

The Upf proteins that carry out nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) are found in all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Each protein has an individual role, but they need to work in collaboration. Upf1 is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that unwinds the RNA helix. Because Upf1 can unwind any RNA, Upf2 and Upf3 are required to help Upf1 discriminate between nonsense and normal mRNAs.
Usually, Upf3 binds to an Exon Junction Complex (EJC) at mRNA splice sites. If a ribosome fully translates the mRNA,...
Nuclear Export of mRNA02:31

Nuclear Export of mRNA

Before mRNAs are exported to the cytoplasm, it is crucial to check each mRNA for structural and functional integrity. Eukaryotic cells use several different mechanisms, collectively known as mRNA surveillance, to look for irregularities in mRNAs. Irregular or aberrant mRNA are rapidly degraded by various enzymes. If a defective mRNA escapes the surveillance, it would be translated into a protein which would either be non-functional or not function properly. One of the primary irregularities in...
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression02:51

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

The structure and stability of mRNA molecules regulates gene expression, as mRNAs are a key step in the pathway from gene to protein. In eukaryotes, the half-life of mRNA varies from a few minutes up to several days. mRNA stability is essential in growth and development. The absence of the proteins regulating its stability, such as tristetraprolin in mice, can cause systemic issues, including bone marrow overgrowth, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression02:51

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

The structure and stability of mRNA molecules regulates gene expression, as mRNAs are a key step in the pathway from gene to protein. In eukaryotes, the half-life of mRNA varies from a few minutes up to several days. mRNA stability is essential in growth and development. The absence of the proteins regulating its stability, such as tristetraprolin in mice, can cause systemic issues, including bone marrow overgrowth, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
RNA Stability01:53

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...