Artist’s impression of a long, non-coding RNA system. Grey/blue/red indicates main long non-coding RNA. Green, showing a second RNA interacting with long-noncoding RNA. Magenta ribbons and blue barrels indicated RNA-interacting proteins.
A special stretch of ribonucleic acid (RNA) called COOLAIR is revealing its inner structure and function to scientists, displaying a striking resemblance to an RNA molecular machine. Los Alamos-U.K. collaboration unveils hidden molecular machinery in RNA processes LOS ALAMOS, N.M. Sept. 21, 2016-A special stretch of ribonucleic acid (RNA) called COOLAIR is revealing its inner structure and function to scientists, displaying a striking resemblance to an RNA molecular machine, territory previously understood to be limited to the cells' protein factory (the 'ribosome') and not a skill set given to mere strings of RNA. "We are uncovering the nuts and bolts of plant memories,” said Karissa Sanbonmatsu of Los Alamos National Laboratory, lead author on a new article this week in the journal Cell Reports . In the past 5 years or so, material in the cell known as "junk DNA” has actually turned out not to be junk at all. Instead, it was shown to produce RNA molecules that play key roles in the development of organs in the embryo, as well as affecting cancer, brain function and plant biology.
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