Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology.
Microbiol Spectr. 2018 Jul;6(4). doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.RWR-0005-2017.
Bacterial noncoding RNA (ncRNA) classes longer than 200 nucleotides are rare but are responsible for performing some of the most fundamental tasks in living cells. RNAs such as 16S and 23S rRNA, group I and group II introns, RNase P ribozymes, transfer-messenger RNAs, and coenzyme B riboswitches are diverse in structure and accomplish biochemical functions that rival the activities of proteins. Over the last decade, a number of new classes of large ncRNAs have been uncovered in bacteria. A total of 21 classes with no established functions have been identified through the use of bioinformatics search strategies. Based on precedents for bacterial large ncRNAs performing sophisticated functions, it seems likely that some of these structured ncRNAs also will prove to carry out complex functions. Thus, determining their roles will provide a better understanding of fundamental biological processes. A few studies have produced data that provide clues to the purposes of some of these recently found classes, but the true functions of most classes remain mysterious.
细菌非编码 RNA（ncRNA）大于 200 个核苷酸的种类很少，但它们负责执行活细胞中一些最基本的任务。16S 和 23S rRNA、I 类和 II 类内含子、RNase P 核酶、转移信使 RNA 和辅酶 B 核糖开关等 RNA 在结构上多种多样，并且完成的生化功能可与蛋白质的活性相媲美。在过去的十年中，已经在细菌中发现了许多新的长 ncRNA 种类。通过使用生物信息学搜索策略，总共鉴定出了 21 种尚未确定功能的 ncRNA 种类。鉴于细菌中大型 ncRNA 执行复杂功能的先例，这些具有特定结构的 ncRNA 中很可能有一些也将被证明具有复杂的功能。因此，确定它们的功能将有助于更好地了解基本的生物学过程。一些研究已经提供了一些数据，这些数据为这些最近发现的 ncRNA 种类的部分功能提供了线索，但大多数 ncRNA 种类的真正功能仍然是个谜。
