Institute for Physical Chemistry, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
RNA Biol. 2013 Jan;10(1):2-3. doi: 10.4161/rna.23500. Epub 2013 Jan 1.
The life of an RNA molecule is complicated. Once a newly synthesized eukaryotic RNA has emerged from the RNA polymerase in the nucleus, it will be processed, spliced, and exported into cytoplasm. In prokaryotes, transcribed RNA is synthesized directly in the cytoplasm. RNA molecules that serve as mRNAs have to be kept devoid of local structures that are inhibitory for ribosome scanning and translation. Quite differently, structural and catalytic RNAs have to adopt a defined three-dimensional conformation to exert their biological function, and may assemble with other protein and/or RNA partners into complex functional units. Ultimately, RNA degradation by the so-called degradosome will end the RNA's life.
RNA 分子的生命是复杂的。一旦新合成的真核 RNA 从核内的 RNA 聚合酶中出现,它将被加工、剪接,并输出到细胞质中。在原核生物中,转录 RNA 直接在细胞质中合成。作为 mRNA 的 RNA 分子必须保持没有抑制核糖体扫描和翻译的局部结构。相反,结构和催化 RNA 必须采用特定的三维构象才能发挥其生物学功能,并可能与其他蛋白质和/或 RNA 伴侣组装成复杂的功能单元。最终,所谓的降解体通过 RNA 降解将结束 RNA 的生命。