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Interaction between mRNA export, mRNA decay and translation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Author(s) -
Cajigas Iván J,
Guzzardo Paloma M,
Krebber Heike,
Wilkinson Miles F,
González Carlos I
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a654-a
Subject(s) - messenger rna , nonsense mediated decay , p bodies , nuclear export signal , saccharomyces cerevisiae , mutant , translation (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , biology , gene , rna binding protein , protein biosynthesis , cycloheximide , cytoplasm , chemistry , rna , genetics , cell nucleus , rna splicing
Gene expression relies on the communication between the processes of transcription, mRNA export and protein synthesis. Once synthesized in the nucleus, the mRNA must become competent for its export across the nuclear pore. Formation of an mRNA particle (mRNP) suitable for export is accomplished by the binding of soluble mRNA export factors to the newly synthesized mRNA. Following transport, the mRNP undergoes structural rearrangements in the cytoplasm in order to enter translation. We have found an allele‐specific genetic interaction between the mRNA export factor Mex67p and Upf1, a cytoplasmic protein involved in Nonsense mediated mRNA decay (NMD) and translational control. Interestingly, overexpression or deletion of the UPF1 gene in a mex67 mutant strain leads to a synthetic enhancement of the temperature sensitive phenotype of this strain. This effect is not the result of reduced Mex67p levels, altered NMD or impaired mRNA export. Moreover, this effect is specific to mex67 since deletion of the UPF1 gene in other mRNA export mutant strains such as rat7‐1 and rat8‐2 has no effect on their growth. Strikingly, deletion of the UPF genes in the mex67 mutant strain causes cycloheximide hypersensitivity, suggesting that the phenotypic enhancement observed is the result of translational defects. These results suggest a link between the processes of mRNA export, mRNA decay and translation.