Non-coding RNA: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:29, 4 June 2003

Revision as of 00:16, 7 July 2003

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An '''RNA gene''' is any [[gene]] that encodes [[RNA]] that functions without being [[translation (biology)|translated]] into a protein. Commonly-used synonyms of "RNA gene" are '''noncoding RNA''' ('''ncRNA''') and '''small RNA''' ('''sRNA'''). Less-frequently used synonyms are non-messenger RNA (nmRNA), small non-messenger RNA (snmRNA), and functional RNA (fRNA).

The most prominent examples of RNA genes are '''transfer RNA''' ('''tRNA''') and '''ribosomal RNA''' ('''rRNA'''), both of which are involved in the process of translation. However, since the late 1990s, many new RNA genes have been found, and thus RNA genes may play a much more significant role than previously thought. Even so, they are probably not as significant or numerous as the protein-coding genes.

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The synthetase hydrolyzes [[adenosine triphosphate|ATP]] to bind the appropriate amino acid to the 3' hydroxyl of the tRNA molecule. It also mediates a proofreading reaction to ensure high fidelity of tRNA charging; if the tRNA is found to be improperly charged, the amino acid-tRNA bond is hydrolyzed.

See [[translation (biology)|translation]] for more on the role of tRNA.

==== Ribosomal RNA ====