Multiple mRNA Decapping Enzymes in Mammalian Cells

Regulation of RNA degradation plays an important role in the control of gene expression. One mechanism of eukaryotic mRNA decay proceeds through an initial deadenylation followed by 5' end decapping and exonucleolytic decay. Dcp2 is currently believed to be the only cytoplasmic decapping enzyme responsible for decapping of all mRNAs. Here we report that Dcp2 protein modestly contributes to bulk mRNA decay and surprisingly is not detectable in a subset of mouse and human tissues. Consistent with these findings, a hypomorphic knockout of Dcp2 had no adverse consequences in mice. In contrast, the previously reported Xenopus nucleolar decapping enzyme, Nudt16, is an ubiquitous cytoplasmic decapping enzyme in mammalian cells. Like Dcp2, Nudt16 also regulates the stability of a subset of mRNAs including a member of the motin family of proteins involved in angiogenesis, Angiomotin-like 2. These data demonstrate mammalian cells possess multiple mRNA decapping enzymes, including Nudt16 to regulate mRNA turnover.