Translation drives mRNA quality control

• Published in: Nature structural & molecular biology Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 594 - 601
• Main Authors: Shoemaker, Christopher J, Green, Rachel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.06.2012; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/337/1645/1769; 631/337/574; Animals; Biochemistry; Biological Microscopy; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Codon, Nonsense - genetics; Codon, Nonsense - metabolism; Decay; Genetic translation; Humans; Life Sciences; Membrane Biology; Messenger RNA; Molecular biology; perspective; Physiological aspects; Protein Biosynthesis; Protein Structure; Quality control; Ribonucleic acid; Ribosomes - genetics; Ribosomes - metabolism; RNA; RNA, Fungal - genetics; RNA, Fungal - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; United States
• ISSN: 1545-9993; 1545-9985; 1545-9985
• DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2301

Cells have evolved so-called mRNA surveillance mechanisms to monitor mRNAs as they are translated and to degrade troublesome transcripts. Studies of mRNA surveillance have traditionally focused on mRNA fate. In this Perspective, the authors explore mRNA surveillance from the viewpoint of its origins on the ribosome, which should lead to new and unanticipated insights that inform future studies. Cells have evolved so-called mRNA surveillance mechanisms to monitor mRNAs as they are translated and to degrade troublesome transcripts. Studies of mRNA surveillance have traditionally focused on mRNA fate. In this Perspective, the authors explore mRNA surveillance from the viewpoint of its origins on the ribosome, which should lead to new and unanticipated insights that inform future studies. There are three predominant forms of co-translational mRNA surveillance: nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), no-go decay (NGD) and nonstop decay (NSD). Although discussion of these pathways often focuses on mRNA fate, there is growing consensus that there are other important outcomes of these processes that must be simultaneously considered. Here, we seek to highlight similarities between NMD, NGD and NSD and their probable origins on the ribosome during translation.