Year: 2009
Type: review
Abstract: Over the past ten years, it has become increasingly apparent that the repertoire of transcripts produced by any given eukaryotic genome is more diverse and abundant than originally thought and that a significant fraction of the genetic material of all organisms produces transcripts that do not encode proteins.[ 1 ] All organisms produce non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), transfer RNAs (tRNAs), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) and small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs).[ 2 ] Because of their central roles in the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA), these classes of ncRNAs have evolved little in billions of years. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and repeat-associated small interfering RNAs (rasiRNAs) belong to a group of ncRNAs commonly referred to as the small regulatory RNAs.[ 1 , 3 – 5 ] Small regulatory RNAs are intimately associated with the discovery of RNA interference[ 6 – 8 ] and the subsequent development of silencing technologies that has revolutionised the reverse genetic approach.[ 9 – 11 ] For example, it is no longer necessary to conduct lengthy in vivo knockout approaches to determine gene function. It is no coincidence that members of the small regulatory RNA group have similar biogenic pathways[ 12 – 14 ] and mechanisms of action[ 15 – 17 ] and can sometimes only be distinguished either by their differing origins or by the type of targets they regulate.[ 1 , 5 ] As their name implies, small regulatory RNAs are exceedingly small molecules, ranging in size from 21 to 25 nucleotides.[ 1 , 3 ] Yet, despite their tiny stature, these small RNA molecules exert profound and potent influences on a diverse array of biological systems (see below).
Source: Human Genomics
Authors: Robert M Lavker, Jia-Yu, David G Ryan
Institution: Northwestern University
Language: English
Subfield: Cancer Research
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
OpenAlex ID: W2139695810