Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
12:20
Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
Published on: December 29, 2015
Noncoding RNAs: persistent viral agents as modular tools for cellular needs
1Telos-Philosophische Praxis, A-5111-Bürmoos, Austria. witzany@sbg.at
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|October 23, 2009
Summary
The study reveals that essential cellular processes, including DNA replication, rely on RNA molecules. These RNA molecules, like messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA), likely originated from ancient viral infections.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cellular processes, including DNA replication, transcription, and translation, are fundamental to life.
- These processes involve complex interactions between DNA, RNA, and proteins in a hierarchical manner.
- The evolutionary origins of these fundamental molecular machinery are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the evolutionary origins of key RNA molecules involved in gene expression.
- To investigate the potential role of viral elements in shaping cellular functions.
- To understand the contribution of noncoding RNAs to cellular needs.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the evolutionary descent of RNA molecules.
- Examination of the relationship between retroviral elements and cellular RNA.
- Investigation of the functional roles of noncoding RNAs in cellular processes.
Main Results:
- All DNA-encoded evolutionary steps in cellular development rely on RNA-mediated processes.
- Messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) are crucial for DNA replication.
- tRNA, rRNA, and mRNA processing appear to have retroviral ancestry, suggesting a history of viral integration.
Conclusions:
- Key RNA molecules essential for life likely evolved from ancient viral infections.
- Viral elements may have transferred genetic competences to hosts, altering their genetic identity.
- Noncoding RNAs may serve as versatile tools for cellular functions, originating from persistent, nonlytic viral settlers.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
02:33Retroviruses
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
01:23RNA Interference
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
01:23RNA Interference
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
02:39lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)...