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Antisense RNA
Antisense RNA (asRNA), also referred to as antisense transcript, natural antisense transcript (NAT) or antisense oligonucleotide, is a single stranded RNA that is complementary to a protein coding messenger RNA (mRNA) with which it hybridizes, and thereby blocks its Translation (biology), translation into protein. The asRNAs (which occur naturally) have been found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and can be classified into short (200 nucleotides) non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). The primary function of asRNA is regulating gene expression. asRNAs may also be produced synthetically and have found wide spread use as research tools for gene knockdown. They may also have therapeutic applications. Discovery and history in drug development Some of the earliest asRNAs were discovered while investigating functional proteins. An example was MicF RNA, micF asRNA. While characterizing the outer membrane Porin (protein), porin in Escherichia coli, ''E.coli'', some of the promoter clones observ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Intergenic Region
An intergenic region is a stretch of DNA sequences located between genes. Intergenic regions may contain functional elements and junk DNA. Properties and functions Intergenic regions may contain a number of functional DNA sequences such as promoters and regulatory elements, enhancers, spacers, and (in eukaryotes) centromeres. They may also contain origins of replication, scaffold attachment regions, and transposons and viruses. Non-functional DNA elements such as pseudogenes and repetitive DNA, both of which are types of junk DNA, can also be found in intergenic regions—although they may also be located within genes in introns. It is possible that these regions contain as of yet unidentified functional elements, such as non-coding genes or regulatory sequences. This indeed occurs occasionally, but the amount of functional DNA discovered usually constitute only a tiny fraction of the overall amount of intergenic or intronic DNA. Intergenic regions in differ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bacteriophage
A bacteriophage (), also known informally as a phage (), is a virus that infects and replicates within bacteria. The term is derived . Bacteriophages are composed of proteins that Capsid, encapsulate a DNA or RNA genome, and may have structures that are either simple or elaborate. Their genomes may encode as few as four genes (e.g. Bacteriophage MS2, MS2) and as many as hundreds of genes. Phages replicate within the bacterium following the injection of their genome into its cytoplasm. Bacteriophages are among the most common and diverse entities in the biosphere. Bacteriophages are ubiquitous viruses, found wherever bacteria exist. It is estimated there are more than 1031 bacteriophages on the planet, more than every other organism on Earth, including bacteria, combined. Viruses are the most abundant biological entity in the water column of the world's oceans, and the second largest component of biomass after prokaryotes, where up to 9x108 virus, virions per millilitre have b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Plasmid
A plasmid is a small, extrachromosomal DNA molecule within a cell that is physically separated from chromosomal DNA and can replicate independently. They are most commonly found as small circular, double-stranded DNA molecules in bacteria and archaea; however plasmids are sometimes present in and eukaryotic organisms as well. Plasmids often carry useful genes, such as those involved in antibiotic resistance, virulence, secondary metabolism and bioremediation. While chromosomes are large and contain all the essential genetic information for living under normal conditions, plasmids are usually very small and contain additional genes for special circumstances. Artificial plasmids are widely used as vectors in molecular cloning, serving to drive the replication of recombinant DNA sequences within host organisms. In the laboratory, plasmids may be introduced into a cell via transformation. Synthetic plasmids are available for procurement over the internet by various vendors ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
RNAse H
Ribonuclease H (abbreviated RNase H or RNH) is a family of non-nucleotide sequence, sequence-specific endonuclease enzymes that catalysis, catalyze the cleavage of RNA in an RNA/DNA substrate (chemistry), substrate via a hydrolysis, hydrolytic chemical mechanism, mechanism. Members of the RNase H family can be found in nearly all organisms, from bacteria to archaea to eukaryotes. The family is divided into evolutionarily related groups with slightly different substrate (chemistry), substrate preferences, broadly designated ribonuclease H1 and H2. The human genome encodes both H1 and H2. Human ribonuclease H2 is a heterotrimeric complex composed of three subunits, mutations in any of which are among the genetic causes of a rare disease known as Aicardi–Goutières syndrome. A third type, closely related to H2, is found only in a few prokaryotes, whereas H1 and H2 occur in all domains of life. Additionally, RNase H1-like retroviral ribonuclease H domains occur in multidomain reve ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
