Eukaryotic mRNA decay: more than garbage disposal?

Exceptional Conference

Speaker: Bertrand Seraphin, IGBMC, France

Eukaryotic mRNA decay is not just "garbage disposal" but a crucial, active process that regulates gene expression and ensures cellular quality control. It fine-tunes protein output by degrading excess or unneeded mRNA and removes faulty or improperly processed transcripts that could produce harmful proteins. This process is vital for adapting to changing conditions, maintaining homeostasis, and preventing disease.
Several multistep pathways involved in the degradation of eukaryotic RNAs have been characterized. These pathways are tightly coordinated with other fundamental cellular processes, including transcription, mRNA modification, and translation. The critical role of mRNA turnover is highlighted by the severe human diseases that arise from defects in mRNA decay factors. The presentation will first provide an overview of eukaryotic mRNA decay and its contribution to gene regulation. Building on recent findings from our team, new examples illustrating the regulation of mRNA degradation will be presented and discussed.