Regulation of cytoplasmic mRNA decay

mRNA decay is a post-transcriptional means by which to modulate protein expression. This Review summarizes the current understanding of the mechanisms and pathways involved in the regulation of the multiple mRNA decay processes that contribute to a responsive output of gene expression. Discoveries made over the past 20 years highlight the importance of mRNA decay as a means of modulating gene expression and thereby protein production. Up until recently, studies largely focused on identifying cis-acting sequences that serve as mRNA stability or instability elements, the proteins that bind these elements, how the process of translation influences mRNA decay and the ribonucleases that catalyse decay. Now, current studies have begun to elucidate how the decay process is regulated. This Review examines our current understanding of how mammalian cell mRNA decay is controlled by different signalling pathways and lays out a framework for future research.