Quality control of eukaryotic mRNA: safeguarding cells from abnormal mRNA function.
Cells routinely make mistakes. Some mistakes are encoded by the genome and may manifest as inherited or acquired diseases. Other mistakes occur because metabolic processes can be intrinsically inefficient or inaccurate. Consequently, cells have developed mechanisms to minimize the damage that would result if mistakes went unchecked. Here, we provide an overview of three quality control mechanisms--nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, nonstop mRNA decay, and no-go mRNA decay. Each surveys mRNAs during translation and degrades those mRNAs that direct aberrant protein synthesis. Along with other types of quality control that occur during the complex processes of mRNA biogenesis, these mRNA surveillance mechanisms help to ensure the integrity of protein-encoding gene expression.
Isken
Olaf
O
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
Maquat
Lynne E
LE
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D018389:Codon, Nonsense; D018388:Codon, Terminator; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D010441:Peptide Chain Elongation, Translational; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D018389:Codon, Nonsense; D018388:Codon, Terminator; D012333:RNA, Messenger