All eukaryotic mRNAs are capped at their 5＇ end. Capping of mRNAs takes place co-transcriptionally and involves three steps. The intermediates of the capping process, as well as the uncapped 5＇ tri-phosphate RNA, ar...All eukaryotic mRNAs are capped at their 5＇ end. Capping of mRNAs takes place co-transcriptionally and involves three steps. The intermediates of the capping process, as well as the uncapped 5＇ tri-phosphate RNA, are resistant to decapping and degradation by known factors, leading to the assumption that the capping process always proceeds to completion. This view was recently drastically changed. A novel family of enzymes, including the yeast proteins Rail, Dxo1/Ydr370C, and the mammalian protein DXO/Dom3Z, has been identified. These enzymes catalyze the conversion of the improperly capped mRNAs to 5＇ mono-phosphate RNA, allowing them to be degraded by 5＇-3＇ exoribonucleases. Several of these enzymes also possess 5＇-3＇ exoribonuclease activities themselves, and can single-handedly clear the improperly capped mRNAs. Studying of these enzymes has led to the realization that mRNA capping does not always proceed to completion, and the identification of an mRNA capping quality control mechanism in eukaryotes. In this paper, we briefly review recent advances in this area.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Basic Research Program (973) of China (Nos.2011CB910500 and 2010CB912502)the One Hundred Talent Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,China
文摘All eukaryotic mRNAs are capped at their 5＇ end. Capping of mRNAs takes place co-transcriptionally and involves three steps. The intermediates of the capping process, as well as the uncapped 5＇ tri-phosphate RNA, are resistant to decapping and degradation by known factors, leading to the assumption that the capping process always proceeds to completion. This view was recently drastically changed. A novel family of enzymes, including the yeast proteins Rail, Dxo1/Ydr370C, and the mammalian protein DXO/Dom3Z, has been identified. These enzymes catalyze the conversion of the improperly capped mRNAs to 5＇ mono-phosphate RNA, allowing them to be degraded by 5＇-3＇ exoribonucleases. Several of these enzymes also possess 5＇-3＇ exoribonuclease activities themselves, and can single-handedly clear the improperly capped mRNAs. Studying of these enzymes has led to the realization that mRNA capping does not always proceed to completion, and the identification of an mRNA capping quality control mechanism in eukaryotes. In this paper, we briefly review recent advances in this area.
