Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Section Molecular Cell Biology, ZAMED, Heinrich-Damerow-Str.1, D-6120 Halle, Germany.
Biomolecules. 2013 Feb 8;3(1):143-56. doi: 10.3390/biom3010143.
Y RNAs constitute a family of highly conserved small noncoding RNAs (in humans: 83-112 nt; Y1, Y3, Y4 and Y5). They are transcribed from individual genes by RNA-polymerase III and fold into conserved stem-loop-structures. Although discovered 30 years ago, insights into the cellular and physiological role of Y RNAs remains incomplete. In this review, we will discuss knowledge on the structural properties, associated proteins and discuss proposed functions of Y RNAs. We suggest Y RNAs to be an integral part of ribonucleoprotein networks within cells and could therefore have substantial influence on many different cellular processes. Putative functions of Y RNAs include small RNA quality control, DNA replication, regulation of the cellular stress response and proliferation. This suggests Y RNAs as essential regulators of cell fate and indicates future avenues of research, which will provide novel insights into the role of small noncoding RNAs in gene expression.
Y RNAs 是一组高度保守的小非编码 RNA（人类：83-112nt；Y1、Y3、Y4 和 Y5）。它们由 RNA 聚合酶 III 从单个基因转录而来，并折叠成保守的茎环结构。尽管 30 年前就已发现，但 Y RNA 在细胞和生理功能方面的认识仍不完整。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论 Y RNA 的结构特性、相关蛋白，并讨论其提出的功能。我们认为 Y RNA 是细胞内核糖核蛋白网络的一个组成部分，因此可能对许多不同的细胞过程产生重大影响。Y RNA 的潜在功能包括小 RNA 质量控制、DNA 复制、细胞应激反应和增殖的调节。这表明 Y RNA 是细胞命运的重要调节剂，并指出未来的研究方向，这将为小非编码 RNA 在基因表达中的作用提供新的见解。
