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Related Concept Videos

Nucleic acids02:43

Nucleic acids

Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the cell's genetic blueprint and carry instructions for its functioning.
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes, the...
Nucleic Acids02:43

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the cell's genetic blueprint and carry instructions for its functioning.
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes, the...
Ribozymes02:47

Ribozymes

The term ribozyme is used for RNA that can act as an enzyme. Ribozymes are mainly found in selected viruses, bacteria, plant organelles, and lower eukaryotes. Ribozymes were first discovered in 1982 when Tom Cech’s laboratory observed Group I introns acting as enzymes. This was shortly followed by the discovery of another ribozyme, Ribonulcease P, by Sid Altman’s laboratory. Both Cech and Altman received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1989 for their work on ribozymes.
Ribozymes can be...
Nucleic Acid Structure01:25

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms  a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...
Ribosomal RNA Synthesis02:53

Ribosomal RNA Synthesis

Ribosome synthesis is a highly complex and coordinated process involving more than 200 assembly factors. The synthesis and processing of ribosomal components occurs not only in the nucleolus but also in the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...
Protein Complex Assembly02:41

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types.  Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...

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Isolation of Cognate RNA-protein Complexes from Cells Using Oligonucleotide-directed Elution
10:53

Isolation of Cognate RNA-protein Complexes from Cells Using Oligonucleotide-directed Elution

Published on: January 16, 2017

Ribonucleoprotein multimers and their functions.

Franziska Bleichert1, Susan J Baserga

  • 1Department of Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, USA.

Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
|June 25, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) are essential cellular components that often form multimers. This review explores the function and organization of stable multimeric RNPs, including those involved in RNA modification, telomere maintenance, and splicing.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) are crucial for numerous cellular functions, often acting as enzymes.
  • RNPs, like proteins, can form homomeric or heteromeric multimers.
  • The functional significance of RNP multimerization is not fully understood for all cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the function and organization of small ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) that exist as stable multimers.
  • To discuss specific examples of multimeric RNPs, including those involved in RNA modification, telomerase, and pre-mRNA splicing.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on multimeric RNPs.
  • Analysis of structural and functional data for selected RNP complexes.
  • Synthesis of information regarding the roles of RNP multimerization in cellular processes.

Main Results:

  • Multimerization is a common organizational principle for functional RNPs.
  • Stable multimeric RNPs are involved in critical cellular processes such as RNA chemical modification, telomere maintenance (telomerase RNP), and pre-mRNA splicing.
  • The specific mechanisms and functional advantages of multimerization vary across different RNP systems.

Conclusions:

  • Multimeric organization is a key feature of many essential RNP complexes.
  • Understanding RNP multimerization provides insights into fundamental cellular mechanisms.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the functional consequences of multimerization for diverse RNP systems.