UPF1 is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase and central regulatory factor in nonsense-mediated decay. Its nucleotide cycle, interactions and phosphorylation help couple recognition of an inappropriate termination context to RNA remodelling and degradation. UPF2 can regulate its activity, while other factors recruit downstream decay functions. Because UPF1 also participates in additional RNA processes, a perturbation phenotype is not automatically attributable to one decay pathway alone. [ref]
Human Upf proteins target an mRNA for nonsense-mediated decay when bound downstream of a termination codon by Jens Lykke-Andersen and others. 2000, identification and functional testing of human UPF factors
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