The Role Of Dna And Rna In Protein Synthesis – A study led by Julian Chen and his group at Arizona State University’s School of Molecular Sciences and Biodesign Institute’s Center for the Mechanism of Evolution has discovered, for the first time, an unprecedented pathway that generates Telomerase RNA from protein-coding messenger RNA (RNA). mRNA).
A central principle of molecular biology specifies the sequence in which genetic information is transferred from DNA to make proteins. Messenger RNA molecules carry genetic information from the DNA in the cell’s nucleus to the cytoplasm where proteins are made. Messenger RNA acts as a messenger to make proteins.
The Role Of Dna And Rna In Protein Synthesis
“Actually, there is a lot of RNA (ribonucleic acid) that is not used to make proteins,” Chen explained. “About 70 percent of the human genome is used to make noncoding RNAs that do not code for protein sequences but have other uses.”
Targeting Rna:protein Interactions With An Integrative Approach Leads To The Identification Of Potent Ybx1 Inhibitors
Telomerase RNA is one of the noncoding RNAs that assembles with the telomerase protein to form the enzyme telomerase. Telomerase is crucial for cellular immortality in cancer and stem cells. In this study, Chen’s group showed that fungal telomerase RNA is processed from protein-coding mRNA, rather than synthesized independently.
“Our discovery from this paper is paradigm-shifting. Most RNA molecules are synthesized independently and here we have discovered a dual function mRNA that can be used to produce protein or to produce noncoding telomerase RNA, which is truly unique, ” said Chen. “We will need to do more research to understand the underlying mechanism of such an unusual RNA biogenesis pathway.”
Basic research on the metabolism and regulation of mRNA has led to important medical applications. For example, many COVID-19 vaccines use messenger RNA as a means of producing viral spike proteins. In these vaccines, the mRNA molecules are eventually degraded and then absorbed by our body.
This new approach has advantages over DNA vaccines that run the potential risk of being harmfully and permanently incorporated into our DNA. The discovery of dual-function mRNA biogenesis in this work may lead to novel ways to create mRNA vaccines in the future.
Crispr Assisted Detection Of Rna–protein Interactions In Living Cells
In this study, Chen’s group discovered an unexpected mRNA-derived telomerase RNA in the model fungal organism Ustilago maydis, or corn smut. Corn smut, also called Mexican truffle, is edible and adds a delicious umami effect to many dishes, for example tamales and tacos. The study of RNA and telomere biology in corn smut may provide opportunities to discover novel mechanisms for mRNA metabolism and telomerase biogenesis.
The Nobel Prize in Biology or Medicine was awarded in 2009 “for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase.” Telomerase was first isolated from a single-celled organism living in pond scum. As it turned out, telomerase exists in almost all eukaryotic organisms, including humans, and plays a critical role in aging and cancer. Scientists are scrambling to find ways to use telomerase to immortalize human cells.
Typical human cells are mortal and cannot renew themselves forever. As shown by Leonard Hayflick half a century ago, human cells have a limited replicative lifespan, with older cells reaching this limit sooner than younger cells. This “Hayflick limit” of cellular lifespan is directly related to the number of unique DNA repeats found at the ends of chromosomes containing the genetic material. These DNA repeats are part of protective capping structures, known as “telomeres”, which protect the ends of chromosomes from unwanted and unnecessary DNA rearrangements that destabilize the genome.
Each time a cell divides, the telomeric DNA shortens and eventually fails to protect the end of the chromosome. This continuous reduction of telomere length acts as a “molecular clock” that counts down to the end of cell growth.
Compound Interest: What Makes Up The Chemical Structure Of Dna?
A declining capacity of cells to grow is strongly associated with the aging process, with declining cell populations directly contributing to frailty, disease, and organ failure.
Countering the process of telomere shortening is telomerase, an enzyme that holds the key to delaying or even reversing the cellular aging process. Telomerase offsets cellular aging by lengthening telomeres, effectively extending cell lifespan by adding back lost DNA repeats to add time to the nuclear clock’s countdown.
Telomerase lengthens telomeres by repeatedly synthesizing very short DNA repeats of six nucleotides—the building blocks of DNA—with the “GGTTAG” sequence at the end of the chromosome from a template located within the RNA component of the enzyme.
The gradual shortening of telomeres negatively affects the replicative capacity of human stem cells, the cells that repair damaged tissue and/or replenish aging organs in our bodies. Telomerase activity in adult stem cells only slows down the molecular clock and does not completely immortalize these cells. Therefore, reduced telomere length leads to the exhaustion of mature stem cells in older individuals, resulting in increased recovery time from inadequate cell populations and reduced organ tissue. Tapping the full potential of telomerase
Approval Of First ‘rna Interference’ Drug
Understanding the regulation and limitation of the telomerase enzyme holds the promise of reversing telomere shortening and cellular aging, with the potential to extend human lifespan and improve the well-being of older individuals.
Human diseases including dyskeratosis congenita, aplastic anemia, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are genetically associated with mutations that negatively affect telomerase activity and/or accelerate telomere length loss. This accelerated telomere shortening closely resembles premature aging with organ wasting and a shortened patient lifespan due to a severely inadequate stem cell population. Increasing telomerase activity is the most promising means of treating these genetic diseases.
While increased telomerase activity can bring youth to old cells and cure diseases like premature aging, too much of a good thing can be harmful to a person. Just as young stem cells use telomerase to compensate for the loss of telomere length, cancer cells use telomerase to maintain their disordered and destructive growth. Increasing and regulating telomerase function has to be done with precision, walking the narrow line between cell rejuvenation and increased risk for cancer development.
Unlike human stem cells, somatic cells comprise the majority of cells in the human body and lack telomerase activity. Telomerase deficiency of human somatic cells reduces the risk of cancer development, as telomerase fuels uncontrolled cancer cell growth. Therefore, drugs that indiscriminately increase telomerase activity in all cell types are not desired. Small molecule drugs can be screened or designed to enhance telomerase activity in stem cells themselves for disease treatment as well as antiaging therapies without increasing cancer risk.
Explainer: What Is Rna?
Studying telomerase RNA biogenesis in corn smut may unveil new mechanisms for telomerase regulation and provide new directions on how to modulate or engineer human telomerase for innovations in the development of antiaging and anticancer therapeutics.
The study, “Biogenesis of telomerase RNA from protein-coding mRNA precursors,” was just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The ASU team includes first authors postdoc Dhenujen Logeswaran and former research assistant professor Yang Li, doctoral student Khadiza Akhtar, former postdoc Joshua Podlewski (currently at Sandia National Labs, Albuquerque, New Mexico), and two undergraduate students Tamara Olson and Katherine Fosberg.
Chen also commented on the ability of ASU undergraduate students, Tamara Olson and Katherine Fosberg, who have been working in his lab for a year. “They spent a lot of time in the lab and were fully involved in our research.”
More information: Logeswaran, Dhenujen et al, Biogenesis of telomerase RNA from protein-coding mRNA precursors, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204636119. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2204636119
Week 2: So What Exactly Is Transcriptome Sequencing?
This document is subject to copyright. No part may be reproduced without written permission, except in any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research. The content is provided for informational purposes only.
New 3D-printed tumor model enables faster, less expensive and less painful cancer treatment 1 hour ago New study with video shows how female frogs defend themselves against unwanted mating 5 hours ago Artificial coral reefs show early signs they Can mimic real reefs killed by climate change. , 5 hours ago study says Saturday Citations: Golden retrievers and hope for humans. Plus: Cosmologists stop entire universe 7 hours ago Soft, living material made with algae glow under stress Oct 20, 2023 Pre-colonial Australia given ‘almost-human’ status, archaeological study Oct 20, 2023 Challenging Prehistoric gender role explored: Research finds women were hunters too Oct 20, 2023 Did urbanization trigger plant evolution? Oct 20, 2023 Analysis Shows Harsh Workplace Climate Pushing Women Out of Education Oct 20, 2023 Revolutionary Radar: Integrated THz Emitter for Precise Moving Target Detection Oct 20, 2023
This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyze your use of our services, collect data for ad personalization and provide content from third parties. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and terms of use. Home Games & Quizzes History & Social Sciences & Tech Biography Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Finance Videos
While every effort has been made to follow the rules of citation style, there may be some discrepancies. If you have any questions, please refer to the appropriate style guide or other sources.
Animation: Dna And Rna Structure
Editors of Encyclopedia Encyclopedia
Synthesis of dna and rna, what is the role of dna in Protein Synthesis, rna role in protein synthesis, dna rna protein synthesis review, identify the role of dna and rna in protein synthesis, dna rna protein synthesis test, dna and rna protein synthesis, dna role in protein synthesis, dna rna and protein synthesis study guide, role of messenger rna in protein synthesis, the role of rna in protein synthesis, the role of messenger rna in protein synthesis
