DCP2 is necessary for the degradation of mRNAs, both in normal mRNA turnover and in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay.
DCP2 removes the 7-methyl guanine cap structure from mRNA molecules, yielding a 5'-phosphorylated mRNA fragment and 7m-GDP.
It has higher activity towards mRNAs that lack a poly(A) tail, but has no activity towards a cap structure lacking a RNA moiety.DCP2 is a key component of an mRNA-decapping complex required for removal of the 5-prime cap from mRNA prior to its degradation from the 5-prime end (Fenger-Gron et al., 2005 [PubMed 16364915]).[supplied by OMIM].