Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Codon, Nonsense”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Beta-thalassemia syndromes.

In summary, the beta-thalassemias are due to defects in or around the structural beta-globin gene. In some Indian patients, there is deletion of sequence at the 3' end of the beta-globin gene. Most commonly, single nucleotide mutations cause beta(+)- and beta(0) -thalassemia. More than 30 such mutations have been identified. Defects in the promoter region 5' to the gene as far 5' as -87 and closer to the gene at -27 and -28 in the ATA sequence can cause beta (+)-thalassemia. Single nucleotide changes in coding regions leading to termination or nonsense codons commonly cause beta (0)-thalassemia. In addition, beta(0)-thalassemia can be due to single nucleotide changes in the invariant GT at the 5' splice junction in IVS 1 and 2 and in the AG at the 3' end of IVS 2. Additionally, single nucleotide mutations can occur within IVS that result in both beta(+)- and beta(0)-thalassemia. New splice sites are usually the result of these single nucleotide mutations, and they lead to new, abnormal splicing patterns. In some instances, beta (+)-thalassemia results when a new splice signal created within IVS is still associated with some continued normal splicing as well as with abnormal splicing. The abnormal splicing leads to abnormal mRNA, while the normal splicing leads to some normal mRNA and the beta (+)-pheno-single In other cases, such as with the defect as position 705 of IVS 2, the single nucleotide change within the IVS allows only abnormal mRNA splicing, and it results in beta (0)-thalassemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Effect of base sequence on in vitro protein-chain termination.

It has been proposed that the sequences surrounding nonsense codons determine the efficiency of protein-chain termination. To test this hypothesis, the termination factor, RF-1, was purified to near homogeneity and was used to examine the specificity of in vitro prokaryotic termination as a function of the nature and number of bases adjacent to UAA. Oligomers with different nucleotide sequences surrounding UAA were synthesized and their conformation was analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. The activity of these oligomers in RF-1-dependent termination was assayed by the release of analogues of peptides, N-acetyl or N-formyl-methionine, that were bound to ribosomes as N-acetyl or N-formyl-Met-tRNAfMet with either AUG or AUG covalently linked to another oligoribonucleotide. In the former case, a second oligomer was added to stimulate release. When added to the AUG-bound intermediate, UAAUAA was 5-fold less effective in stimulating release of N-acetyl-Met by RF-1 than were UAA, UAAN (where N is any base), UAAUGA, or UAAUAG. Oligomers AUGUAA, AUGUUAA, and AUG(U)mUAA18-25 (where m = 1-5) stimulated release by RF-1, whereas AUGCUA, AUGCUAA, and other control polymers were inactive. The data suggest that recognition of UAA depends, at least in part, on the nature of the bases surrounding UAA. A loosely stacked conformation of UAA in the short messengers favors termination, whereas nucleosides which encourage strong base stacking restrict release.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Molecular basis of maple syrup urine disease: novel mutations at the E1 alpha locus that impair E1(alpha 2 beta 2) assembly or decrease steady-state E1 alpha mRNA levels of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex.

We report the occurrence of three novel mutations in the E1 alpha (BCKDHA) locus of the branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKAD) complex that cause maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). An 8-bp deletion in exon 7 is present in one allele of a compound-heterozygous patient (GM-649). A single C nucleotide insertion in exon 2 occurs in one allele of an intermediate-MSUD patient (Lo). The second allele of patient Lo carries an A-to-G transition in exon 9 of the E1 alpha gene. This missense mutation changes Tyr-368 to Cys (Y368C) in the E1 alpha subunit. Both the 8-bp deletion and the single C insertion generate a downstream nonsense codon. Both mutations appear to be associated with a low abundance of the mutant E1 alpha mRNA, as determined by allele-specific oligonucleotide probing. Transfection studies strongly suggest that the Y368C substitution in the E1 alpha subunit impairs its proper assembly with the normal E1 beta. Unassembled as well as misassembled E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits are degraded in the cell.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗
PubMed1994

Diversity of beta-globin mutations in Israeli ethnic groups reflects recent historic events.

We characterized nearly 500 beta-thalassemia genes from the Israeli population representing a variety of ethnic subgroups. We found 28 different mutations in the beta-globin gene, including three mutations (beta S, beta C, and beta O-Arab) causing hemoglobinopathies. Marked genetic heterogeneity was observed in both the Arab (20 mutations) and Jewish (17 mutations) populations. On the other hand, two ethnic isolates--Druze and Samaritans--had a single mutation each. Fifteen of the beta-thalassemia alleles are Mediterranean in type, 5 originated in Kurdistan, 2 are of Indian origin, and 2 sporadic alleles came from Europe. Only one mutant allele--nonsense codon 37--appears to be indigenous to Israel. While human habitation in Israel dates back to early prehistory, the present-day spectrum of beta-globin mutations can be largely explained by migration events that occurred in the past millennium.

Alleles↗
PubMed1993

The plastocyanin-deficient phenotype of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Ac-208 results from a frame-shift mutation in the nuclear gene encoding preapoplastocyanin.

Ac-208 is a plastocyanin-deficient mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that contains only 2-3% of the wild-type level of plastocyanin-encoding mRNA and no detectable plastocyanin. Sequence analysis of the ac-208 plastocyanin-encoding gene reveals a single nucleotide insertion in the first exon compared with the wild-type gene; this alters the reading frame and results in a premature nonsense codon. We have introduced the genomic sequence encoding plastocyanin from a wild-type strain into ac-208 by cotransformation with a selectable marker encoding nitrate reductase. Of 22 nit+ transformants characterized, nine contained additional plastocyanin-encoding sequences (compared with untransformed cells) and each of these nine transformants was found to accumulate the protein. Transformants that do not contain newly introduced plastocyanin sequences retain the plastocyanin-deficient phenotype. The introduced plastocyanin-encoding sequences are stable during mitotic growth in liquid culture over a period of several months, as is expression from the introduced sequences. We suggest that the decreased steady state level of plastocyanin-encoding messages is a consequence of the frame-shift mutation in the structural gene. The ability to complement ac-208 with plastocyanin-encoding sequences will allow the introduction and analysis of in vitro mutagenized plastocyanin sequences in vivo in transgenic C. reinhardtii cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Functional analysis of an intron 3' splice site in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Caenorhabditis elegans introns typically lack both branch point and polypyrimidine tract consensus sequences utilized in other organisms for intron recognition. However, most introns have an unusually long, highly conserved consensus, UUUCAG/R, at the 3' splice site. This site can be recognized even when the -1G is changed to A. To determine how the 3' splice site is defined, we tested mutations in the sequence UUUCAA/A at the 3' splice site of the first intron of a test gene in vivo. Replacement of individual U's with A's or C's compromised splicing. When the sequence UUUCAA/AAG was tested, splicing occurred following both the -1A and the +3G, indicating that both UUUC and the AG contain 3' splice site information. When the sequence UUUCAA/AAA was tested, all splicing occurred following the -1A, suggesting that the UUUC contains sufficient information in the absence of an AG to specify the location of the splice site. In support of this idea, when point mutations were introduced into the UUUC, unspliced RNAs accumulated. Surprisingly, RNAs containing the mutant intron often contained the second, nonmutated intron as well, suggesting that interference with splicing of one intron can interfere with splicing of a second intron in the same pre-mRNA. The majority of these unspliced RNAs were degraded by the system responsible for degradation of transcripts containing nonsense mutations (smg), even though the intron contained no nonsense codon.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Differential V region mutation of two transfected Ig genes and their interaction in cultured B cell lines.

We have established B cell culture systems in which transfected and stably integrated Ig constructs spontaneously undergo high rates of variable (V) region mutation. Mutation rates were determined using reversion analysis of an Ig V region nonsense codon (Vn). A construct (Vn/gamma2a) in which a Vn was associated with the gamma2a constant region and its intervening and immediate flanking sequences mutated at a high rate of 2.2 x 10(-4)/bp/generation in the NSO myeloma cell line. This same Vn, when associated with the mu constant region (Vn/mu), mutated at a 1000-fold lower rate in NSO. The Vn/gamma2a construct also mutated at high rates in the 18.81 pre-B and the S107 myeloma cell lines and at a low rate in the J558 myeloma cell line. In NSO, the presence of the gamma2a construct raised the mutation rate of the mu construct and the mu decreased the mutation rate of gamma2a. These results suggest that there is both positive and negative regulation of V region mutation and that different cell lines express different combinations and/or amounts of trans-acting factors that are involved in the mutational process.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Analyses of loss-of-function mutations of the MITF gene suggest that haploinsufficiency is a cause of Waardenburg syndrome type 2A.

Waardenburg syndrome type 2 (WS2) is a dominantly inherited disorder characterized by a pigmentation anomaly and hearing impairment due to lack of melanocyte. Previous work has linked a subset of families with WS2 (WS2A) to the MITF gene that encodes a transcription factor with a basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (bHLH-Zip) motif and that is involved in melanocyte differentiation. Several splice-site and missense mutations have been reported in individuals affected with WS2A. In this report, we have identified two novel point mutations in the MITF gene in affected individuals from two different families with WS2A. The two mutations (C760--> T and C895--> T) create stop codons in exons 7 and 8, respectively. Corresponding mutant alleles predict the truncated proteins lacking HLH-Zip or Zip structure. To understand how these mutations cause WS2 in heterozygotes, we generated mutant MITF cDNAs and used them for DNA-binding and luciferase reporter assays. The mutated MITF proteins lose the DNA-binding activity and fail to transactivate the promoter of tyrosinase, a melanocyte-specific enzyme. However, these mutated proteins do not appear to interfere with the activity of wild-type MITF protein in these assays, indicating that they do not show a dominant-negative effect. These findings suggest that the phenotypes of the two families with WS2A in the present study are caused by loss-of-function mutations in one of the two alleles of the MITF gene, resulting in haploinsufficiency of the MITF protein, the protein necessary for normal development of melanocytes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Two mutations in exon XII of the protein S alpha gene in four thrombophilic families resulting in premature stop codons and depressed levels of mutated mRNA.

Sixteen Danish unrelated thrombophilic families with plasma protein S deficiency of type 1 (or III) are currently under investigation in our laboratory for defects in the protein S alpha gene. The present paper describes a part of this work, which deals with the identification and phenotypical presentation of two unique mutations in exon XII of the protein S alpha gene in four of these families. The mutations were identified by SSCP screening followed by nucleotide sequence analysis or by direct nucleotide sequence analysis. The mutation found in one family (D) is a novel deletion of an A in either the codon for Gly448 (GGA) or Ile449 (ATI) resulting in a frameshift and a premature stop codon at position 454. The other mutation shared by three families (F, G and J) is a previously reported C-->T transition within a hypermutable CG dinucleotide sequence converting Arg410 (CGA) to Stop (TGA). All affected individuals are heterozygotes for their mutation and in each family the protein S genotype, the plasma protein S phenotype (not shown for Family J) and the clinical phenotype cosegregate. The two mutations can fully explain the abnormal protein S phenotype since premature stop codons are known to disrupt gene function of the mutated allele. Analysis of protein S mRNA from platelets showed that both mutations result in a marked reduction in the amount of protein S mRNA from the mutated alleles indicating that the mutations exert their deleterious effects on gene expression at the transcriptional level. The Arg410-->Stop mutation in Families F, G and J is in all instances linked to a G at the site of a common neutral dimorphism in the codon for Pro626 (CCA/G) in exon XV. This indicates that the mutation in these families could have arisen in a common ancestor. The Arg410 (CGA)-->Stop (TGA) mutation is also seen in exon XII of the normal protein S alpha gene. This gives rise to the speculation as to whether the mutation in the protein S alpha gene is the result of an interaction with the protein S beta gene leading to double homologous unequal crossing-over or gene conversion of a short DNA sequence. However, this is unlikely since none of the 7 other protein S beta-specific nucleotides are present in the mutated exon XII sequence of the protein S alpha gene. The common Arg506-->Gln Leiden mutation in coagulation factor V is not an additional risk factor for thrombosis in any of the four families studied.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Dose-response relations for unnatural amino acids at the agonist binding site of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor: tests with novel side chains and with several agonists.

Structure-function relations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor are probed using a recently developed method based on chemical synthesis of nonsense suppressor tRNAs with unnatural amino acid residues, site-directed incorporation at nonsense codons in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and electrophysiological measurements. A broad range of unnatural amino acids, as many as 14 at a given site, are incorporated at three sites, alpha 93, alpha 190, and alpha 198, all of which are tyrosine in the wild-type receptor and are thought to contribute to the agonist binding site. Confirming and expanding upon earlier studies using conventional mutagenesis, the three tyrosines are shown to be in substantially different structural microenvironments. In particular, a crucial role is established for the hydroxyl group of alpha Tyr93, whereas a variety of substituents are functional at the analogous position of alpha Tyr198. Interestingly, consideration of three different agonists (acetylcholine, nicotine, and tetramethylammonium) does not discriminate between these two best-characterized binding site residues. In addition, double-mutation studies establish the independent effects of mutations at the pore region (second transmembrane region) and at the agonist binding site, and this observation leads to a novel strategy for adjusting EC50 values. These results establish the broad generality and great potential of the unnatural amino acid methodology for illuminating subtle structural distinctions in neuroreceptors and related integral membrane proteins.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1998

Splicing error due to a splice acceptor site mutation in the ALD gene identified in a Japanese childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy case.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is characterised by progressive multifocal demyelination of central nervous system and adrenocortical insufficiency. This disorder has been also associated with mutations in the ALD gene, encoding an ATP-binding transporter which is located in the peroxisomal membrane. Defect of the gene may lead to impaired peroxisomal beta-oxidation and increase of serum and tissue very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). Here we report the results of analysis of the ALD gene in a Japanese patient with childhood cerebral ALD. In our patient, by sequencing of the ALD cDNA, an 8 bp insertion (ACCCCCAG) was detected at the start of exon 9, which corresponded to nucleotides from position -1 to -8 of the 3' splice acceptor site of intron 8. Sequencing of genomic DNA showed a single nucleotide substitution at position-10 of the 3' splice acceptor site of intron 8 replacing a G with an A which activated a cryptic splice acceptor site. It is concluded that a splicing error was induced by a point mutation that created a novel splice acceptor site. This insertion created a nonsense codon downstream, producing a truncated ALD protein. His mother and younger sister with increased VLCFA ratios were heterozygotes of normal and mutant ALD genes.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed2001

A nonsense mutation in MLH1 causes exon skipping in three unrelated HNPCC families.

Germline mutations in the DNA mismatch repair genes MSH2 and MLH1 are responsible for the majority of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families. A common mutation mechanism is to disrupt MLH1 and MSH2 mRNA splicing. The disruption creates aberrant mRNAs lacking specific coding exons (exon skipping). Here, we report a novel skipping of MLH1 exon 12 caused by an AAG to TAG nonsense mutation at codon 461 in three HNPCC families of North American origins. The nonsense codon was found in a conserved haplotype in the three unrelated families and seems to represent a founder mutation. The skipping created an aberrant MLH1 mRNA transcript lacking exon 12. The effect of the codon 461 nonsense mutation on exon 12 skipping is evident even though it was placed in a minigene construct containing entirely different coding sequences. Notably, the effect of the nonsense mutation on exon skipping is incomplete. Accordingly, a second aberrant MLH1 transcript encompassing the nonsense codon is also produced. Whereas the latter transcript is unstable, presumably because of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, neither of the aberrant transcripts seems to affect the stability of wild-type MLH1 mRNA. This study demonstrates that the germ-line nonsense mutation at codon 461 of MLH1 disrupts normal MLH1 mRNA processing, and that exon skipping underlies pathogenesis in these HNPCC families.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1991

Thalassemias in Sardinia: molecular pathology, phenotype-genotype correlation, and prevention.

This article reviews the molecular bases of alpha- and beta-thalassemias in Sardinia. In addition, it describes the characteristics and the effects of a genetic program designed to prevent homozygous beta-thalassemia. In the large majority of the cases (95.7%), beta-thalassemia is caused by the nonsense mutation at codon 39, followed by frameshifts at codon 6 (2.1%). Homozygous beta-thalassemia most commonly results in thalassemia major, but in a small proportion this genotype produces milder forms referred to as thalassemia intermedia. The reasons for the attenuated forms were determined only in a small proportion of the cases. The reduced clinical severity was due to either of two factors: (a) There could be the presence of cytosine-thymidine (C----T) substitution of position - 158 G gamma, which is able to increase the G gamma chain output (as in homozygotes for frameshift at codon 6 or compound heterozygote for frameshift at codon 6 and codon 39 nonsense mutation). (b) Reduced clinical severity could be the result of co-inheritance of alpha-thalassemia in the form of two alpha-globin gene deletions of functional loss of the alpha 2-globin gene (homozygote for codon 39 nonsense mutation). The most prominent clinical form of alpha-thalassemia is hemoglobin H disease, which may result from the compound heterozygous state for deletion alpha 0- and alpha(+)-thalassemia (in 83.1% of cases) or deletion and nondeletion alpha-thalassemia (in 16.9%). Deletion Hb disease shows a milder clinical picture as compared to the nondeletion form. The most common nondeletion alpha-thalassemia is the ATG----ACG substitution at the initiation codon of the alpha 2 gene. Double heterozygotes of alpha (-alpha/-alpha) and beta-thalassemia or delta- and beta-thalassemia are relatively common and may cause confusion in carrier identification. The preventive program aimed to control beta-thalassemia is based on voluntary carrier screening., counselling, and prenatal diagnosis. Prenatal diagnosis is carried out by dot blot analysis with allelic specific oligonucleotides on amplified trophoblast DNA. This procedure gave very reliable results; in fact, no misdiagnosis has occurred so far. The preventive program was highly effective, resulting in a decline of the incidence of thalassemia major from 1:250 to 1:1,000 live births.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Leaky termination at premature stop codons antagonizes nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in S. cerevisiae.

The Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay (NMD) pathway mediates the rapid degradation of mRNAs that contain premature stop mutations in eukaryotic organisms. It was recently shown that mutations in three yeast genes that encode proteins involved in the NMD process, UPF1, UPF2, and UPF3, also reduce the efficiency of translation termination. In the current study, we compared the efficiency of translation termination in a upf1Delta strain and a [PSI(+)] strain using a collection of translation termination reporter constructs. The [PSI(+)] state is caused by a prion form of the polypeptide chain release factor eRF3 that limits its availability to participate in translation termination. In contrast, the mechanism by which Upf1p influences translation termination is poorly understood. The efficiency of translation termination is primarily determined by a tetranucleotide termination signal consisting of the stop codon and the first nucleotide immediately 3' of the stop codon. We found that the upf1Delta mutation, like the [PSI(+)] state, decreases the efficiency of translation termination over a broad range of tetranucleotide termination signals in a unique, context-dependent manner. These results suggest that Upf1p may associate with the termination complex prior to polypeptide chain release. We also found that the increase in readthrough observed in a [PSI(+)]/upf1Delta strain was larger than the readthrough observed in strains carrying either defect alone, indicating that the upf1Delta mutation and the [PSI(+)] state influence the termination process in distinct ways. Finally, our analysis revealed that the mRNA destabilization associated with NMD could be separated into two distinct forms that correlated with the extent the premature stop codon was suppressed. The minor component of NMD was a 25% decrease in mRNA levels observed when readthrough was >/=0.5%, while the major component was represented by a larger decrease in mRNA abundance that was observed only when readthrough was </=0.5%. This low threshold for the onset of the major component of NMD indicates that mRNA surveillance is an ongoing process that occurs throughout the lifetime of an mRNA.

Codon, Nonsense↗
PubMed1994

On the relationship between preferred termination codon contexts and nonsense suppression in human cells.

The nucleotide sequences 3' to the translational termination codons in a collection of human genes have been analysed for evidence of a preferred 3' context for natural UAG codons. The aim was to see whether human UAG contexts can be related to the recent demonstration of the effects of 3' context on nonsense suppression in human cells. Since mammalian genomes are known to consist of a patchwork of blocks of sequences or 'isochores' with different G+C contents, the collection of genes was split into 5 classes containing genes with similar frequencies of G+C at the 3rd position of synonymous codons. This analysis revealed that the frequency of bases 3' to UAG varies with the G+C frequency of the gene, and that these changes were mirrored by changes in the patterns of bases in GN and AGN strings. The identity of the next 3' base appears therefore to be determined by genome wide changes in G+C composition, rather than selection to maintain a particular tetranucleotide stop signal. These findings argue strongly that the failure to find bias in the patterns of bases used in human coding sequences is an insensitive guide for the existence of codon usage or codon context effects during translation in human cells.

Base Composition↗
PubMed2003

Two novel mutations in the myophosphorylase gene in a patient with McArdle disease.

We identified two novel mutations in exon 2 of the myophosphorylase gene in a 33-year-old German women with McArdle disease. The patient was compound heterozygous for a novel nonsense mutation at codon 84 changing tyrosine to stop codon (Y84X) and for a novel missense mutation at codon 93 changing arginine to tryptophan (R93W). These mutations are the first to be described in exon 2 and expand the genetic heterogeneity in patients with McArdle disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Nonsense mutation at codon 63 of the BRCA1 gene in Japanese breast cancer patients.

The involvement of abnormalities of the BRCA1 gene in breast cancers in Japanese patients without any family history of this cancer was investigated by polymerase chain reaction-based single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of the DNA sequences corresponding to the zinc finger domain (exons 2, 3 and 5) and the binding domain with Rad51 (exon 11) of the BRCA1 protein. An identical nonsense mutation at codon 63 (TTA to TAA) was found in 2 of 56 (3.5%) breast cancers from independent patients. The nucleotide change was also detected in the DNAs from non-cancerous tissues of both patients and therefore was a germline mutation. One of the patients was a member of a pedigree involving 3 ovarian cancer and 1 gastric cancer patients, while the other patient had no family history of malignancy. The same germline mutation at codon 63 was reported in four other independent Japanese pedigrees with frequent breast cancer, but not in such families in other countries. These observations suggest that the mutation commonly originated from a single Japanese ancestor. No other mutation of the BRCA1 gene was observed in the samples analyzed in this study. A low incidence of germline mutation and the absence of somatic mutation suggest that the aberration of the BRCA1 gene is involved only in a subset of Japanese breast cancers.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Nonsense mutations in close proximity to the initiation codon fail to trigger full nonsense-mediated mRNA decay.

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a surveillance mechanism that degrades mRNAs containing premature translation termination codons. In mammalian cells, a termination codon is ordinarily recognized as "premature" if it is located greater than 50-54 nucleotides 5' to the final exon-exon junction. We have described a set of naturally occurring human beta-globin gene mutations that apparently contradict this rule. The corresponding beta-thalassemia genes contain nonsense mutations within exon 1, and yet their encoded mRNAs accumulate to levels approaching wild-type beta-globin (beta(WT)) mRNA. In the present report we demonstrate that the stabilities of these mRNAs with nonsense mutations in exon 1 are intermediate between beta(WT) mRNA and beta-globin mRNA carrying a prototype NMD-sensitive mutation in exon 2 (codon 39 nonsense; beta 39). Functional analyses of these mRNAs with 5'-proximal nonsense mutations demonstrate that their relative resistance to NMD does not reflect abnormal RNA splicing or translation re-initiation and is independent of promoter identity and erythroid specificity. Instead, the proximity of the nonsense codon to the translation initiation AUG constitutes a major determinant of NMD. Positioning a termination mutation at the 5' terminus of the coding region blunts mRNA destabilization, and this effect is dominant to the "50-54 nt boundary rule." These observations impact on current models of NMD.

Animals↗