Scientists have discovered extremely tiny fragments of regulatory RNA called microRNA or mi-RNA. Up until recently they had managed to slip under the radar, undetected but, in 2000, scientists isolated a specific gene sequence on a round worm that coded for a special, tiny RNA fragment called let-7. This mi-RNA has been shown to block the production of five different proteins. Through extensive research on databases, it was discovered that let-7 not only occurs in nematodes but in humans as well and can be found right across the entire animal kingdom. From this, Scientists concluded that they must be pretty important little guys if Nature went to the effort of preserving them in so many different species.
What has now been unearthed is the knowledge that these mi-RNAs have the ability to bind to messenger RNA (m-RNA) and consequently turn-off whole genes sets. Comparatively, the addition of anti-miRNA molecules are able to bind and block specific mi-RNAs, turning off whole sets of genes.
What has now been unearthed is the knowledge that these mi-RNAs have the ability to bind to messenger RNA (m-RNA) and consequently turn-off whole genes sets. Comparatively, the addition of anti-miRNA molecules are able to bind and block specific mi-RNAs, turning off whole sets of genes.
Researches have found that mi-RNAs play a major part in setting up a specific immune response and some have been linked to directly targeting the genes of foreign pathogens leading to slower replication rates thereby reducing the severity of the infection.
As this is still a new area of research, not enough is known about the complete mechanisms of the mi-RNAs. On a less-than-pleasing note, one lab has discovered that several mi-RNAs that were thought to block the production of specific proteins were actually found to boost the cells production under different conditions.
However, a point to appreciate is that whether or not these scintillating little snippets are the next up-and-coming contenders in the war on disease, they provide a model that may facilitate the understanding of new concepts. They will be the pioneers of the next front on genetic research.
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Happy Biologising :-)
