AAA+ proteins RUVBL1 and RUVBL2 coordinate PIKK activity and function in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related protein kinase (PIKK) family proteins play essential roles in DNA-based and RNA-based processes, such as the response to DNA damage, messenger RNA (mRNA) quality control, transcription, and translation, where they contribute to the maintenance of genome integrity and accurate gene expression. The adenosine triphosphatases associated with diverse cellular activities (AAA+) family proteins RuvB-like 1 (RUVBL1) and RUVBL2 are involved in various cellular processes, including transcription, RNA modification, DNA repair, and telomere maintenance. We show that RUVBL1 and RUVBL2 associate with each PIKK family member.

SMG-8 and SMG-9, two novel subunits of the SMG-1 complex, regulate remodeling of the mRNA surveillance complex during nonsense-mediated mRNA decay.

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a surveillance mechanism that detects and degrades mRNAs containing premature translation termination codons (PTCs). SMG-1 and Upf1 transiently form a surveillance complex termed "SURF" that includes eRF1 and eRF3 on post-spliced mRNAs during recognition of PTC. If an exon junction complex (EJC) exists downstream from the SURF complex, SMG-1 phosphorylates Upf1, the step that is a rate-limiting for NMD.

The emotional memory effect: differential processing or item distinctiveness?

A color-naming task was followed by incidental free recall to investigate how emotional words affect attention and memory. We compared taboo, nonthreatening negative-affect, and neutral words across three experiments. As compared with neutral words, taboo words led to longer color-naming times and better memory in both within- and between-subjects designs.

CAR-1, a protein that localizes with the mRNA decapping component DCAP-1, is required for cytokinesis and ER organization in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos.

The division of one cell into two requires the coordination of multiple components. We describe a gene, car-1, whose product may provide a link between disparate cellular processes. Inhibition of car-1 expression in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos causes late cytokinesis failures: cleavage furrows ingress but subsequently regress and the spindle midzone fails to form, even though midzone components are present.