Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Termination of Translation01:44

Termination of Translation

The large ribosomal subunit has several important structures essential to translation. These include the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) - which is the site where the peptide bond is formed - and a large, internal, water-filled tube through which the nascent polypeptide moves. This latter structure is called the Peptide Exit Tunnel, and it begins at the PTC and spans the body of the large ribosomal subunit. During translation, as the nascent polypeptide chain is synthesized, it passes through...
Termination of Translation01:44

Termination of Translation

The large ribosomal subunit has several important structures essential to translation. These include the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) - which is the site where the peptide bond is formed - and a large, internal, water-filled tube through which the nascent polypeptide moves. This latter structure is called the Peptide Exit Tunnel, and it begins at the PTC and spans the body of the large ribosomal subunit. During translation, as the nascent polypeptide chain is synthesized, it passes through...
Improving Translational Accuracy02:07

Improving Translational Accuracy

Base complementarity between the three base pairs of mRNA codon and the tRNA anticodon is not a failsafe mechanism. Inaccuracies can range from a single mismatch to no correct base pairing at all. The free energy difference between the correct and nearly correct base pairs can be as small as 3 kcal/ mol. With complementarity being the only proofreading step, the estimated error frequency would be one wrong amino acid in every 100 amino acids incorporated. However, error frequencies observed in...
Leaky Scanning02:28

Leaky Scanning

During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA.  Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R stands for...
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,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Clinical Evaluation of Opioid-Free Pediatric Peripheral Nerve Block for Lower Extremity Surgery Without Sedation.

The Journal of foot and ankle surgery : official publication of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons·2026
Same author

Ribonuclease DIS3 delays aging and senescence by generating tRNA halves.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

The nuclear cap-binding complex safeguards stress-resistant protein synthesis and proliferation of stem cells.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Translatable Circular RNAs are Degraded Via Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay.

Journal of molecular biology·2026
Same author

Ribonuclease κ promotes longevity by preventing age-associated accumulation of circular RNA in stress granules.

Molecular cell·2026
Same author

The HigB-like SehA toxin promotes non-replicating Salmonella inside macrophages by inhibiting ribonuclease III-dependent rRNA maturation.

Nucleic acids research·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Isolation of Ribosome Bound Nascent Polypeptides in vitro to Identify Translational Pause Sites Along mRNA
10:15

Isolation of Ribosome Bound Nascent Polypeptides in vitro to Identify Translational Pause Sites Along mRNA

Published on: July 6, 2012

When a ribosome encounters a premature termination codon.

Jungwook Hwang1, Yoon Ki Kim

  • 1Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.

BMB Reports
|January 29, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Mammalian cells possess quality control mechanisms to eliminate aberrant transcripts with premature termination codons (PTCs). These pathways, including nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), prevent the production of toxic truncated proteins and regulate gene expression.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses
11:19

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses

Published on: February 25, 2011

RIBO-seq in Bacteria: a Sample Collection and Library Preparation Protocol for NGS Sequencing
12:05

RIBO-seq in Bacteria: a Sample Collection and Library Preparation Protocol for NGS Sequencing

Published on: August 7, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Isolation of Ribosome Bound Nascent Polypeptides in vitro to Identify Translational Pause Sites Along mRNA
10:15

Isolation of Ribosome Bound Nascent Polypeptides in vitro to Identify Translational Pause Sites Along mRNA

Published on: July 6, 2012

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses
11:19

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses

Published on: February 25, 2011

RIBO-seq in Bacteria: a Sample Collection and Library Preparation Protocol for NGS Sequencing
12:05

RIBO-seq in Bacteria: a Sample Collection and Library Preparation Protocol for NGS Sequencing

Published on: August 7, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Aberrant mRNA transcripts with premature termination codons (PTCs) arise from errors in mRNA biogenesis or somatic mutations in mammalian cells.
  • The synthesis of truncated polypeptides from these faulty transcripts poses a risk of toxicity to normal cellular functions.
  • Mammalian cells have developed intricate quality control systems to identify and manage these aberrant transcripts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular characteristics of cellular pathways that target transcripts with premature termination codons (PTCs).
  • To highlight the significance of mRNA quality control mechanisms in preventing cellular damage and regulating gene expression.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of established pathways involved in mRNA quality control.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), nonsense-mediated translational repression (NMTR), nonsense-associated alternative splicing (NAS), and nonsense-mediated transcriptional gene silencing (NMTGS).

Main Results:

  • Identification and description of four key pathways: NMD, NMTR, NAS, and NMTGS, which target aberrant transcripts.
  • Explanation of how these pathways recognize and eliminate faulty mRNAs or suppress their translation.
  • Demonstration of the crucial role of these mechanisms in maintaining cellular homeostasis.

Conclusions:

  • Mammalian cells employ sophisticated mRNA quality control pathways to safeguard against the detrimental effects of aberrant transcripts.
  • These quality control mechanisms, including NMD, are essential for regulating gene expression and preventing the accumulation of potentially toxic truncated proteins.