The nonsense-mediated messenger RNA (mRNA) decay (NMD) pathway is a cellular quality control and post-transcriptional gene regulatory mechanism and is essential for viability in most multicellular organisms . A complex of proteins has been identified to be required for NMD function to occur; however, there is an incomplete understanding of the individual contributions of each of these factors to the NMD process. Central to the NMD process are three proteins, Upf1 (SMG-2), Upf2 (SMG-3), and Upf3 (SMG-4), which are found in all eukaryotes, with Upf1 and Upf2 being absolutely required for NMD in all organisms in which their functions have been examined. The other known NMD factors, Smg1, Smg5, Smg6, and Smg7, are more variable in their presence in different orders of organisms and are thought to have a more regulatory role. Here we present the first genetic analysis of the NMD factorinSurprisingly, we find that unlike the other analyzedgenes in this organism,is essential for NMD activity. We found this is due in part to a requirement for Smg5 in both the activity of Smg6-dependent endonucleolytic cleavage, as well as an additional Smg6-independent mechanism. Redundancy between these degradation pathways explains why someNMD genes are not required for all NMD-pathway activity. We also found that while the NMD componenthas only a minimal role inNMD during normal conditions, it becomes essential when NMD activity is compromised by partial loss offunction. Our findings suggest that not all NMD complex components are required for NMD function at all times, but instead are utilized in a context-dependent manner. Smg5Drosophila Smg Smg5Drosophila Smg1Drosophila Smg5in vivo
