Chapter 8. In vivo analysis of plant nonsense-mediated mRNA decay

RNA studies, in recent years, have attracted much attention. These studies have broadened the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of gene regulation. Molecular mechanisms are frequently conserved among eukaryotes. A system, or finding, in one organism can generally be extended to understanding the corresponding system in other eukaryotic organisms. Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) components and pathways are conserved to an extent that depends on the particular eukaryotes being compared. Reports of NMD in a number of species, including higher plants, are gradually increasing so as to contribute to the elucidation of similarities and variations in the mechanisms of NMD among different species, the origin of NMD, and the evolution of NMD. It appears that the contexts of termination codons that are recognized as being "premature" can vary among different organisms. This chapter introduces and summarizes methods for the analysis of NMD-triggered mRNA degradation in plants in the hope that it will contribute to the detailed understanding of NMD.