Rules that govern UPF1 binding to mRNA 3' UTRs.

ABSTRACT: Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), which degrades transcripts harboring a premature termination codon (PTC), depends on the helicase up-frameshift 1 (UPF1). However, mRNAs that are not NMD targets also bind UPF1. What governs the timing, position, and function of UPF1 binding to mRNAs remains unclear. We provide evidence that (i) multiple UPF1 molecules accumulate on the 3'-untranslated region (3' UTR) of PTC-containing mRNAs and to an extent that is greater per unit 3' UTR length if the mRNA is an NMD target; (ii) UPF1 binding begins ≥35 nt downstream of the PTC; (iii) enhanced UPF1 binding to the 3' UTR of PTC-containing mRNA relative to its PTC-free counterpart depends on translation; and (iv) the presence of a 3' UTR exon-junction complex (EJC) further enhances UPF1 binding and/or aff

SUBMITTER: Kurosaki T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3587222 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature