SMG1 regulates adipogenesis via targeting of staufen1-mediated mRNA decay

• SMG1 is complexed with SMD factors and is important for efficient SMD.
• SMG1 modulates adipogenesis via targeting SMD.
• Our findings will improve the understanding of adipogenesis regulation by SMD.

Suppressor of morphogenesis in genitalia 1 (SMG1), a member of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinase family, is involved in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). SMG1 phosphorylates Upf1, a key NMD factor. Subsequently, hyperphosphorylated Upf1 associates with SMG5-7 or proline-rich nuclear receptor coregulatory protein (PNRC2) to elicit rapid mRNA degradation. Upf1 is also known to be involved in staufen 1 (Stau1)-mediated mRNA decay (SMD), which is closely related to NMD. However, the biological and molecular roles of SMG1 in SMD remain unknown. Here, we provide evidence that SMG1 is involved in SMD. The immunoprecipitation results show that SMG1 is complexed with Stau1, Upf1, and Dcp1a. Downregulation of SMG1 or overexpression of a kinase-inactive mutant of SMG1 inhibits SMD efficiency. In addition, downregulation of SMG1 inhibits rapid degradation elicited by artificially tethered Stau1 or Upf1 downstream of the normal termination codon. Furthermore, Stau1 and Upf1 colocalize in processing bodies in an SMG1-dependent manner. We also find that the level of SMG1 increases during adipogenesis. Accordingly, downregulation of SMG1 causes the reduction in the level of Upf1 phosphorylation and delays adipogenesis, suggesting the functional involvement of SMG1 in adipogenesis via SMD.