1. Academic Validation
  2. Molecular mechanisms for the RNA-dependent ATPase activity of Upf1 and its regulation by Upf2

Molecular mechanisms for the RNA-dependent ATPase activity of Upf1 and its regulation by Upf2

  • Mol Cell. 2011 Mar 18;41(6):693-703. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2011.02.010.
Sutapa Chakrabarti 1 Uma Jayachandran Fabien Bonneau Francesca Fiorini Claire Basquin Silvia Domcke Hervé Le Hir Elena Conti
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Structural Cell Biology, Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.
Abstract

Upf1 is a crucial factor in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, the eukaryotic surveillance pathway that degrades mRNAs containing premature stop codons. The essential RNA-dependent ATPase activity of Upf1 is triggered by the formation of the surveillance complex with Upf2-Upf3. We report crystal structures of Upf1 in the presence and absence of the CH domain, captured in the transition state with ADP:AlF₄⁻ and RNA. In isolation, Upf1 clamps onto the RNA, enclosing it in a channel formed by both the catalytic and regulatory domains. Upon binding to Upf2, the regulatory CH domain of Upf1 undergoes a large conformational change, causing the catalytic helicase domain to bind RNA less extensively and triggering its helicase activity. Formation of the surveillance complex thus modifies the RNA binding properties and the catalytic activity of Upf1, causing it to switch from an RNA-clamping mode to an RNA-unwinding mode.

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