Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 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

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decapping occurs on polyribosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Wenqian Hu1, Christine Petzold, Jeff Coller

  • 1Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
|February 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) degrades faulty mRNA. This study reveals that decapped faulty mRNAs associate with polyribosomes, indicating that recognition and degradation are tightly coupled and occur on these active translation complexes.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) is a surveillance pathway that eliminates aberrant mRNAs containing premature translation termination codons.
  • In yeast, NMD involves mRNA decapping and 5'-to-3' exonucleolytic digestion.
  • Previously, NMD of nonsense-containing mRNA was thought to occur in ribosome-free P bodies, despite translation's role in recognition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the precise cellular location and mechanism of nonsense-containing mRNA degradation in yeast.
  • To determine whether mRNA degradation occurs co-translationally or post-translationally.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of decapped nonsense-containing mRNA localization in yeast cells.
  • Association studies with polyribosomes and P bodies.

Main Results:

  • Decapped nonsense-containing mRNAs were found to associate with polyribosomes.
  • This association indicates a tight coupling between the recognition of aberrant mRNA and its subsequent degradation.
  • Polyribosomes are identified as significant sites for the degradation of faulty mRNAs.

Conclusions:

  • The degradation of nonsense-containing mRNA is not restricted to ribosome-free P bodies.
  • Polyribosomes serve as major sites for the degradation of aberrant mRNAs, tightly coupling recognition and decay.
  • This finding refines our understanding of mRNA surveillance pathways and their efficiency.

More Related Videos

Comparative RNA Structure Analysis of Nascent and Mature Transcripts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae09:12

Comparative RNA Structure Analysis of Nascent and Mature Transcripts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: February 27, 2026

DNAzyme-dependent Analysis of rRNA 2’-O-Methylation09:12

DNAzyme-dependent Analysis of rRNA 2’-O-Methylation

Published on: September 16, 2019

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,...
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
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...
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...
Riboswitches01:56

Riboswitches

Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...