Cotranslational microRNA mediated messenger RNA destabilization

Trinh To Tat, Patricia A. Maroney, Sangpen Chamnongpol, Jeff Coller, Timothy W. Nilsen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

MicroRNAs are small (22 nucleotide) regulatory molecules that play important roles in a wide variety of biological processes. These RNAs, which bind to targeted mRNAs via limited base pairing interactions, act to reduce protein production from those mRNAs. Considerable evidence indicates that miRNAs destabilize targeted mRNAs by recruiting enzymes that function in normal mRNA decay and mRNA degradation is widely thought to occur when mRNAs are in a ribosome free state. Nevertheless, when examined, miRNA targeted mRNAs are invariably found to be polysome associated; observations that appear to be at face value incompatible with a simple decay model. Here, we provide evidence that turnover of miRNA-targeted mRNAs occurs while they are being translated. Cotranslational mRNA degradation is initiated by decapping and proceeds 5ʹ to 3ʹ behind the last translating ribosome. These results provide an explanation for a long standing mystery in the miRNA field.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere12880
JournaleLife
Volume5
Issue numberApril 2016
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 8 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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