Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026
05:30
Author Spotlight: Advancing the Analysis of Plasma Extracellular Vesicle Proteome for Cardiovascular Biomarker Studies
Published on: January 31, 2025
1.0K
For what factors should we normalize urinary extracellular mRNA biomarkers?
Pradeep Moon Gunasekaran1, James Matthew Luther2, James Brian Byrd1
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Biomolecular Detection and Quantification
|July 10, 2019
Summary
Urinary extracellular messenger RNA (mRNA) shows promise for disease biomarkers. This study explores optimal normalization methods for urinary mRNA to improve its utility in diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
Background:
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) is essential for protein synthesis, playing a key role in the central dogma.
- mRNA is increasingly recognized as a potential biomarker for various diseases.
- Urinary extracellular mRNA (exmRNA) is detectable and may reflect transcriptional activity in urogenital tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of urinary exmRNA as a source of biomarkers.
- To address the lack of standardized methods for normalizing urinary exmRNA signals.
- To present findings on the principles and research for normalizing urinary exmRNA.
Main Methods:
- Review of relevant first principles in RNA analysis.
- Analysis of research findings from internal and external laboratories.
- Focus on extracellular RNA (exRNA) isolation and quantification techniques.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests urinary exmRNA can be assayed in urine supernatant.
- Urinary exmRNA may provide insights into urogenital tissue transcription.
- Optimal normalization strategies for urinary exmRNA are still under investigation.
Conclusions:
- Urinary exmRNA holds potential for non-invasive disease biomarker discovery.
- Standardized normalization is crucial for reliable urinary exmRNA analysis.
- Further research is needed to establish robust normalization protocols for clinical applications.
Related Concept Videos
02:41Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing
8.1K
In eukaryotic cells, nascent mRNA transcripts need to undergo many post-transcriptional modifications to reach the cell cytoplasm and translate into functional proteins. For a long time, transcription and pre-mRNA processing were considered two independent events that occur sequentially in the cell. However, it has now been well established that transcription and pre-mRNA processing are two simultaneous processes that are precisely regulated inside the cell.
The chromatin structure, especially...
The chromatin structure, especially...
8.1K
02:27Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay
11.7K
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,...
Usually, Upf3 binds to an Exon Junction Complex (EJC) at mRNA splice sites. If a ribosome fully translates the mRNA,...
11.7K
02:22Regulated mRNA Transport
6.9K
In eukaryotes, transcription and translation are compartmentalized; an mRNA is first synthesized in the nucleus and then selectively transported to the cytoplasm for protein synthesis. Before transport, a pre-mRNA undergoes several steps of post-transcriptional modifications including splicing, 5' capping, and the addition of a poly-adenine tail. Various proteins bind to the pre-mRNA during these modifications. The mRNA transport takes place with the help of multiple proteins playing...
6.9K
02:01pre-mRNA Processing
57.2K
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
57.2K
02:31Nuclear Export of mRNA
8.7K
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...
8.7K
02:51mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
6.6K
The structure and stability of mRNA molecules regulates gene expression, as mRNAs are a key step in the pathway from gene to protein. In eukaryotes, the half-life of mRNA varies from a few minutes up to several days. mRNA stability is essential in growth and development. The absence of the proteins regulating its stability, such as tristetraprolin in mice, can cause systemic issues, including bone marrow overgrowth, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
6.6K