Understanding how cells detect and degrade faulty mRNA with early stop signals
Official title: Mechanisms of Translational Surveillance
Funded at University of California Santa Cruz · NIH-11358314 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team will study how cells recognize and destroy mRNA that ends too early, which is linked to many inherited human diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $318,858 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM131012-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11358314 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This study is basic science in animals; no direct patient participation is required.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or non-disease-related research contexts may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz will explore the steps by which cells identify early stop codons in mRNA and trigger decay, using in vivo experiments to map the proteins and ribosomes involved. They will dissect the mRNA cleavage process, examine how UPF1 licenses messages for decay, and investigate the role of ribosomes in signaling RNA destruction. The work aims to uncover the biochemical details and timing that control nonsense-mediated decay in animals. Findings could clarify why some genetic mutations cause disease and point toward potential future therapeutic strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding NMD could lead to new approaches to treat diseases caused by premature stop mutations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has identified many factors in NMD, but the exact steps and interactions remain to be fully mapped, making this a novel contribution.
Where this research is happening
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University of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arribere, Joshua — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Arribere, Joshua
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.