Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (#NMD) is an RNA degradation pathway that is conserved in eukaryotes. Its study led to a better understanding of other major cellular processes, such as DNA transcription or mRNA translation. In a recent review, we highlight the impressive conservation of the molecular mechanisms involved in this pathway, from yeast to mammalian cells:
Thank you #biorxiv staff for processing the pre-prints so quickly and nicely. Our latest manuscript addresses a rather specialized, albeit important, question in mRNA degradation in yeast. To what extent the Lsm1-7/Pat1 complex is involved in the degradation of mRNA by decapping activation ? By using a degron strain allowing rapid depletion of Lsm1, we find a slight impact of the complex on decapping, including changes in #NMD substrate levels.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.17.694855v1
I'm looking forward to today's New Music Dublin concert in the NCH 12:30. Cór Linn and Cór na nÓg.
I have a personal connection to three of the composers.
Seán Doherty All the Things Magicians Do (text by C.S. Lewis)
Sue Furlong Peace Songs from County Wexford
Marian Ingoldsby Mol an Óige (World Premiere) (texts: Irish proverb, Emily Dickinson,)
Sue Furlong Mo Ghile Mear
Ciarán Kelly / Carl Corcoran A Child of the Universe (World Premiere) (text by Max Ehrmann)
In a recent pre-print for a project led by Gwenael Badis and with the first author Toni Gouhier, we show that #Upf1, the core helicase of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (#NMD), can selectively bind short poly(A) RNA and help their degradation. This is a new function for NMD!
Images show the levels of short poly(A) tailed RNA in the Upf1-associated RNA fraction and the impact of the absence of Upf1 on the levels of this particular population (for a reporter).
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a conserved eukaryotic surveillance pathway known to degrade mRNAs containing premature termination codons (PTCs). A distance long enough between the stop codon and the poly(A)-binding protein (Pab1) is required for mRNA recognition by the NMD factors Upf1, Upf2 and Upf3. Using Nanopore direct RNA sequencing, we show that PTC-containing NMD targets account for only 6% of Upf1-associated RNA and have long poly(A) tails, indicating that Upf1-binding occurs prior to RNA deadenylation. Conversely, most Upf1-associated mRNAs have short poly(A) tails, lack a PTC and correspond to highly expressed genes. A short poly(A) tail is thus an important feature of NMD targets, redefining the scope of this RNA degradation pathway. We propose a model in which loss of Pab1-binding to short poly(A)-tailed mRNAs impairs translation termination and dictates the recruitment of the NMD machinery, uncovering a hitherto unknown role of NMD in the degradation of these transcripts. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.
Nonsense mediated mRNA decay (#NMD) is frequently a target of viral proteins since an active NMD can limit viral replication. As shown by the lovely work of Fiorini and colleagues, the N protein of #SARS-CoV-2 physically and functionally interact with #Upf1 and #Upf2, two core NMD factors. These results complement previously published studies, such as the one from the Makino group, 2018, on the murine hepatitis virus, a related coronavirus.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39831305/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30297408/
The nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway triggers the degradation of defective mRNAs and governs the expression of mRNAs with specific characteristics. Current understanding indicates that NMD is often significantly suppressed during viral infections to protect the viral genome. In numerous vi …
🎉 It's New Monitor Day! 🎉
We just unboxed the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED—32" of ultra-sharp, buttery-smooth 4K goodness.
Time to put this beast to the test—let’s see what it can do! 🔥
Check out our new video now 👉 https://youtu.be/TGVZsbJA2dg?si=fnduxwmAn0zrzV2O
#NewMonitorDay #NMD #AstroAtomica #YouTuber #YouTube
#4k #QDOLED #OLED #Gaming #Editing #VideoEditing #unboxing #MSI #321URX #MPG321URX
Cosmin Saveanu
Laufblogger
Patrick O'Beirne
Justin D Kruger (he/him)