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Related Concept Videos

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...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
RNA Structure01:19

RNA Structure

The basic structure of RNA consists of a string of ribonucleotides attached by phosphodiester bonds. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA) involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three...
RNA Structure01:23

RNA Structure

Overview
The basic structure of RNA consists of a five-carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA): messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three RNA types consist of a...

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mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation
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mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

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Solution structure of miRNA:mRNA complex.

Mirko Cevec1, Janez Plavec

  • 1Slovenian NMR Centre, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|September 10, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) reveals crucial structural details of microRNA (miRNA):messenger RNA (mRNA) interactions. Understanding these RNA complexes is key to gene expression regulation.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • MicroRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) interactions are critical for post-transcriptional gene regulation.
  • The let-7 miRNA targets lin-41 mRNA in Caenorhabditis elegans, inhibiting gene translation.
  • Specific structural features within these RNA complexes influence gene expression regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review contemporary nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods for studying miRNA:mRNA model systems.
  • To describe structural features of a let-7 miRNA and lin-41 mRNA model construct.
  • To elucidate the role of base pairing, internal loops, and bulges in miRNA:mRNA complex formation and function.

Main Methods:

  • Review of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques applied to RNA structural studies.

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A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells
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A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells

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mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation
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mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

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Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids
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Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

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A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells
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A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells

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  • Detailed structural analysis of a 33-nucleotide (nt) RNA construct mimicking let-7 miRNA and lin-41 mRNA interaction.
  • Utilizing uniformly (13)C- and (15)N-labeled RNA for high-resolution NMR studies.

    • Main Results:

    • The let-7 miRNA and lin-41 mRNA form two distinct complexes at the target site.
    • Structural analysis revealed a stable RNA fold with two stem regions and an asymmetric internal loop.
    • Key elements like base pairing, internal loops, and an adenine bulge are vital for regulatory function.

    Conclusions:

    • Solution-state NMR provides critical insights into the assembly and folding of miRNA:mRNA complexes.
    • Understanding the structural intricacies of these complexes is essential for deciphering gene regulation mechanisms.
    • NMR is a powerful tool for investigating the structural basis of gene silencing by miRNAs.