mRNA degradation is an important aspect of gene expression. It is now clear that the same enzymes degrade both stable and unstable mRNAs. Thus, the key to understanding differential mRNA degradation is to understand the interactions of a particular mRNA with the basal machinery. The experiments proposed here are aimed at understanding in molecular detail how one particular mRNA interacts with the mRNA decay machinery and how this causes its rapid degradation. This proposal is focused on the extremely rapid degradation of yeast mRNAs that lack a stop codon (""""""""nonstop decay"""""""") for four reasons. First, nonstop mRNAs are the least stable mRNAs in yeast. Second, degradation of nonstop mRNAs is an important quality control aspect of gene expression. Third, the mechanism of nonstop decay is likely important to assure that mRNAs are completely degraded. Fourth, nonstop yeast mRNAs are degraded by a complex of 3' exonucleases (the exosome). The exosome is conserved between yeast and mammals and has many functions. These functions may include the decay of important mammalian mRNAs. Understanding nonstop decay in yeast should increase our understanding of other exosome functions. In the current model for nonstop mRNA degradation an mRNA is recognized as aberrant when a ribosome reaches its 3' end. This ribosome is recognized by Ski7p through the ribosomal A-site, which results in recruitment of the exosome. This proposal is aimed at testing and expanding this model.
Aim 1 is to identify all parts of the cellular machinery for recognition and decay of nonstop mRNAs.
Aim 2 is to characterize the role of these parts in vivo. Preliminary results suggest that the proteasome may degrade proteins encoded by nonstop mRNAs.
Aim 3 is to test this hypothesis.
The fourth aim i s to characterize the function of Ski7p in detail, which is the key protein in nonstop mRNA recognition and recruitment of the basal mRNA decay machinery.
These aims should result in an understanding of the recognition and decay of nonstop mRNAs in molecular detail. Since normal mRNAs are degraded by the same enzymes, these experiments should also increase our understanding of the degradation of normal cellular mRNAs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM069900-03
Application #
7209798
Study Section
Molecular Genetics C Study Section (MGC)
Program Officer
Rhoades, Marcus M
Project Start
2005-04-01
Project End
2010-03-31
Budget Start
2007-04-01
Budget End
2008-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$301,599
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771594
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77225
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Marshall, Alexandra N; Montealegre, Maria Camila; Jiménez-López, Claudia et al. (2013) Alternative splicing and subfunctionalization generates functional diversity in fungal proteomes. PLoS Genet 9:e1003376
Klauer, A Alejandra; van Hoof, Ambro (2012) Degradation of mRNAs that lack a stop codon: a decade of nonstop progress. Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA 3:649-60
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Schaeffer, Daneen; van Hoof, Ambro (2011) Different nuclease requirements for exosome-mediated degradation of normal and nonstop mRNAs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:2366-71
Gao, Peng; Pinkston, Kenneth L; Nallapareddy, Sreedhar R et al. (2010) Enterococcus faecalis rnjB is required for pilin gene expression and biofilm formation. J Bacteriol 192:5489-98
Schaeffer, Daneen; Clark, Amanda; Klauer, A Alejandra et al. (2010) Functions of the cytoplasmic exosome. Adv Exp Med Biol 702:79-90
Jackson, Ryan N; Klauer, A Alejandra; Hintze, Bradley J et al. (2010) The crystal structure of Mtr4 reveals a novel arch domain required for rRNA processing. EMBO J 29:2205-16

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