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Related Concept Videos

Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay02:27

Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay

The Upf proteins that carry out nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) are found in all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Each protein has an individual role, but they need to work in collaboration. Upf1 is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that unwinds the RNA helix. Because Upf1 can unwind any RNA, Upf2 and Upf3 are required to help Upf1 discriminate between nonsense and normal mRNAs.
Usually, Upf3 binds to an Exon Junction Complex (EJC) at mRNA splice sites. If a ribosome fully translates the mRNA,...
Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay02:27

Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay

The Upf proteins that carry out nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) are found in all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Each protein has an individual role, but they need to work in collaboration. Upf1 is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that unwinds the RNA helix. Because Upf1 can unwind any RNA, Upf2 and Upf3 are required to help Upf1 discriminate between nonsense and normal mRNAs.
Usually, Upf3 binds to an Exon Junction Complex (EJC) at mRNA splice sites. If a ribosome fully translates the mRNA,...
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...
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...
Nuclear Export of mRNA02:31

Nuclear Export of mRNA

Before mRNAs are exported to the cytoplasm, it is crucial to check each mRNA for structural and functional integrity. Eukaryotic cells use several different mechanisms, collectively known as mRNA surveillance, to look for irregularities in mRNAs. Irregular or aberrant mRNA are rapidly degraded by various enzymes. If a defective mRNA escapes the surveillance, it would be translated into a protein which would either be non-functional or not function properly. One of the primary irregularities in...
RNA Stability01:53

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Identification of Footprints of RNA:Protein Complexes via RNA Immunoprecipitation in Tandem Followed by Sequencing (RIPiT-Seq)
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Identification of Footprints of RNA:Protein Complexes via RNA Immunoprecipitation in Tandem Followed by Sequencing (RIPiT-Seq)

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Intracellular ribonucleases involved in transcript processing and decay: precision tools for RNA.

Cecília Maria Arraiano1, Fabienne Mauxion, Sandra Cristina Viegas

  • 1Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|April 3, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Cells use ribonucleases to manage RNA, producing functional molecules and degrading unwanted transcripts. Recent research reveals diverse new enzymes, their structures, and varied biological roles in RNA processing and decay.

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Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Identification of Footprints of RNA:Protein Complexes via RNA Immunoprecipitation in Tandem Followed by Sequencing (RIPiT-Seq)
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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cells regulate RNA levels by synthesizing new transcripts and degrading old or defective ones.
  • This process relies on ribonucleases, enzymes crucial for precise RNA cleavage and trimming.
  • Recent advancements have significantly expanded the understanding of these enzymes across different life forms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a synthetic overview of recent developments in ribonuclease research.
  • To highlight the identification of novel endoribonucleases and exoribonucleases.
  • To discuss the structural and functional characterization of these enzymes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent literature on ribonuclease research.
  • Analysis of sequence conservation and structural data for enzyme classification.
  • Functional characterization studies of various ribonucleases.

Main Results:

  • Identification of numerous new endoribonucleases and exoribonucleases.
  • Elucidation of ribonuclease structures, providing atomic-level mechanistic insights.
  • Classification of ribonucleases into families based on sequence and structure, revealing diverse enzymatic activities.
  • Demonstration of diverse biological functions, including RNA processing (tRNA, mRNA, rRNA) and degradation (deadenylation, destruction of mRNAs).

Conclusions:

  • The field of ribonuclease research has seen dramatic expansion, with new enzymes and structural data emerging.
  • Ribonucleases exhibit extreme functional diversity, playing critical roles in RNA metabolism and cellular regulation.
  • Understanding these enzymes is key to deciphering RNA decay mechanisms and cellular homeostasis.