Translation Efficiency and mRNA Decay

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a critical cellular surveillance mechanism that detects and degrades mRNA transcripts containing premature termination codons (PTCs), also known as nonsense codons. This process prevents the translation of potentially harmful truncated or erroneous proteins that could disrupt normal cellular function.

NMD plays a vital role in gene expression regulation and maintaining the integrity of the proteome. In addition to its role in eliminating faulty mRNA, NMD is involved in regulating the expression of certain normal genes by modulating the stability of their mRNA. This decay pathway involves several key proteins, including Upf1, Upf2, and Upf3, which recognize and degrade PTC-containing mRNA transcripts.

Understanding NMD is crucial in the study of genetic diseases, as mutations that introduce PTCs can lead to diseases by evading this surveillance mechanism. Moreover, some diseases may occur because of the inappropriate activation of NMD. As a result, research into manipulating NMD has therapeutic potential for treating various genetic disorders and cancers.