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Riboswitches01:56

Riboswitches

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Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
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Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches01:23

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Riboswitches are RNA elements that regulate gene expression by altering their secondary structures in response to specific effector molecules. These elements, located in the leader regions of certain mRNAs, act as transcriptional regulators by toggling between alternative conformations to control downstream gene expression. Riboswitch-mediated regulation is a precise mechanism for modulating biosynthetic pathways, as exemplified by the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway in Bacillus...
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Leaky Scanning02:28

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During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA.  Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...
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Types of RNA01:23

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Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
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Types of RNA01:20

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Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in regulating gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
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piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

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PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
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Methods to Discover Alternative Promoter Usage and Transcriptional Regulation of Murine Bcrp1
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Probabilistic bidirectional promoter switches: noncoding RNA takes control.

Stephen K Anderson1

  • 11] Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc; Lab of Experimental Immunology, Frederick National Lab, Frederick, Maryland, USA [2] The Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA.

Molecular Therapy. Nucleic Acids
|September 3, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Probabilistic promoter switches in genes controlling major histocompatibility complex receptors offer a model for cell fate decisions. These switches use noncoding RNAs to regulate gene transcription during development, ensuring stable gene expression in mature cells.

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Epigenetics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) receptors play critical roles in immune responses and cell recognition.
  • Understanding the regulation of MHC gene expression is crucial for comprehending immune system function and development.
  • Programmed cell fate decisions are fundamental to multicellular organism development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce probabilistic promoter switches as a paradigm for programmed cell fate decisions.
  • To explore the mechanism of these switches involving noncoding RNAs and transcription factor-binding sites.
  • To discuss the implications of these switches in developmental processes and potential roles in other differentiation systems.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current knowledge on murine and human probabilistic promoter switches.
  • Analysis of transcription factor-binding site affinities to understand switch programming.
  • Investigation of noncoding RNA function in regulating gene transcription.
  • Speculative analysis of probabilistic switches in other developmental systems.

Main Results:

  • Probabilistic promoter switches dictate gene transcription direction (sense/antisense) with preset probabilities.
  • Noncoding RNAs produced by these switches can modulate gene transcription based on their location.
  • These switches operate during a developmental phase preceding mature cell gene expression, separating stochastic activation from protein production.
  • This mechanism allows for variegated gene expression without selection, leading to stable gene expression in mature cells.

Conclusions:

  • Probabilistic promoter switches provide a framework for understanding programmed cell fate decisions.
  • Further investigation into stochastic noncoding RNA expression in progenitor cells is warranted.
  • These switches may be a conserved mechanism controlling differentiation across various biological systems.