Ribonucleic acid (RNA) occurs in different forms within organisms and serves many different roles. Listed here are the types of RNA, grouped by role. Abbreviations for the different types of RNA are listed and explained.
Type | Abbr. | Function | Distribution | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Messenger RNA | mRNA | Codes for protein | All organisms | |
Ribosomal RNA | rRNA | Translation | All organisms | |
Signal recognition particle RNA | 7SL RNA or SRP RNA | Membrane integration | All organisms | [1] |
Transfer RNA | tRNA | Translation | All organisms | |
Transfer-messenger RNA | tmRNA | Rescuing stalled ribosomes | Bacteria | [2] |
Type | Abbr. | Function | Distribution | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Small nuclear RNA | snRNA | Splicing and other functions | Eukaryotes and archaea | [3] |
Small nucleolar RNA | snoRNA | Nucleotide modification of RNAs | Eukaryotes and archaea | [4] |
SmY RNA | SmY | mRNA trans-splicing | Nematodes | [5] |
Small Cajal body-specific RNA | scaRNA | Type of snoRNA; Nucleotide modification of RNAs | ||
Guide RNA | gRNA | mRNA nucleotide modification | Kinetoplastid mitochondria | [6] |
Ribonuclease P | RNase P | tRNA maturation | All organisms | [7] |
Ribonuclease MRP | RNase MRP | rRNA maturation, DNA replication | Eukaryotes | [8] |
Y RNA | RNA processing, DNA replication | Animals | [9] | |
Telomerase RNA Component | TERC | Telomere synthesis | Most eukaryotes | [10] |
Spliced Leader RNA | SL RNA | mRNA trans-splicing, RNA processing | ||
Type | Abbr. | Function | Distribution | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Antisense RNA | aRNA, asRNA | Transcriptional attenuation / mRNA degradation / mRNA stabilisation / Translation block | All organisms | [11] [12] |
Cis-natural antisense transcript | cis-NAT | Gene regulation | ||
CRISPR RNA | crRNA | Resistance to parasites, by targeting their DNA | Bacteria and archaea | [13] |
Long noncoding RNA | lncRNA | Regulation of gene transcription, epigenetic regulation | Eukaryotes | |
MicroRNA | miRNA | Gene regulation | Most eukaryotes | [14] |
Piwi-interacting RNA | piRNA | Transposon defense, maybe other functions | Most animals | [15] [16] |
Small interfering RNA | siRNA | Gene regulation | Most eukaryotes | [17] |
Short hairpin RNA | shRNA | Gene regulation | Most eukaryotes | [18] |
Trans-acting siRNA | tasiRNA | Gene regulation | Land plants | [19] |
Repeat associated siRNA | rasiRNA | Type of piRNA; transposon defense | Drosophila | [20] |
7SK RNA | 7SK | negatively regulating CDK9/cyclin T complex | ||
Enhancer RNA | eRNA | Gene regulation | [21] | |
Type | Function | Distribution | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Retrotransposon | Self-propagating | Eukaryotes and some bacteria | [22] |
Viral genome | Information carrier | Double-stranded RNA viruses, positive-sense RNA viruses, negative-sense RNA viruses, many satellite viruses and reverse transcribing viruses | |
Viroid | Self-propagating | Infected plants | [23] |
Satellite RNA | Self-propagating | Infected cells | |
Type | Abbr. | Function | Distribution | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vault RNA | vRNA, vtRNA | Expulsion of xenobiotics (conjectured) | [24] | |
GlycoRNA | - | Unknown | ||
Abbr. | Name | Family | Description | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
ncRNA | non coding RNA | - | ||
nmRNA | non messenger RNA | - | synonym of ncRNA | |
sRNA | small RNA | - | synonym of ncRNA | |
smnRNA | small non messenger RNA | - | synonym of ncRNA | |
tRNA | transfer RNA | RF00005 | ||
sRNA | soluble RNA | - | synonym of tRNA | |
mRNA | messenger RNA | - | ||
pcRNA | protein coding RNA | - | synonym of mRNA | |
rRNA | ribosomal RNA | multiple families | ||
5S rRNA | 5S ribosomal RNA | RF00001 | ||
5.8S rRNA | 5.8S ribosomal RNA | RF00002 | ||
SSU rRNA | small subunit ribosomal RNA | CL00111 | ||
LSU rRNA | large subunit ribosomal RNA | CL00112 | ||
NoRC RNA | nucleolar remodeling complex associated RNA | RF01518 | ||
pRNA | promoter RNA | RF01518 | synonym of NoRC RNA | |
6S RNA | 6S RNA | RF00013 | ||
SsrS RNA | RF00013 | synonym of 6S RNA | ||
aRNA | antisense RNA | - | synonym of asRNA | |
asRNA | antisense RNA | - | ||
asmiRNA | antisense micro RNA | - | ||
cis-NAT | cis-natural antisense transcript | - | Natural antisense transcripts transcribed from the same genomic locus as their target but from the opposite DNA strand and form perfect pairs | |
crRNA | CRISPR RNA | - | ||
tracrRNA | trans-activating crRNA | - | ||
CRISPR RNA | CRISPR-Cas RNA | multiple families | ||
DD RNA | DNA damage response RNA | - | RNA that activates DNA damage response | |
diRNA | DSB-induced small RNAs | - | ||
dsRNA | double stranded RNA | - | ||
endo-siRNA | endogenous small interfering RNA | - | ||
exRNA | extracellular RNA | - | ||
gRNA | guide RNA | - | ||
hc-siRNA | heterochromatic small interfering RNA | - | ||
hcsiRNA | heterochromatic small interfering RNA | - | synonym of hc-siRNA | |
hnRNA | heterogeneous nuclear RNA | - | synonym for pre-mRNA (in the strict sense, it may include nuclear RNA transcripts that do not end up as cytoplasmic mRNA) | |
RNAi | RNA interference | - | Process in which RNA inhibit gene expression or translation, by neutralizing targeted mRNA molecules | |
lincRNA | long intergenic non-coding RNA | - | ||
lncRNA | long non coding RNA | - | ||
miRNA | micro RNA | multiple families | ||
mrpRNA | mitochondrial RNA processing ribonuclease | - | synonym of RNase MRP | |
nat-siRNA | natural antisense short interfering RNA | - | synonym of natsiRNA | |
natsiRNA | natural antisense short interfering RNA | - | Endogenous RNA regulators, between 21 and 24 nt in length, and are generated from complementary mRNA transcripts which are further processed into siRNA | |
OxyS RNA | oxidative stress response RNA | RF00035 | Small non coding RNA which is induced in response to oxidative stress in Escherichia coli | |
piRNA | piwi-interacting RNA | multiple families | Small RNAs that form RNA-protein complexes with piwi proteins in animal cells | |
qiRNA | QDE-2 interfering RNA | - | ||
rasiRNA | Repeat associated siRNA | - | Small RNA that is involved in the RNA interference pathway, a type of piRNA | |
RNase MRP | mitochondrial RNA processing ribonuclease | RF00030 | ||
RNase P | ribonuclease P | RF00010 | A type of ribonuclease which cleaves RNA | |
scaRNA | small Cajal body-specific RNA | RF00553 | ||
scnRNA | small-scan RNA | - | ||
scRNA | small cytoplasmic RNA | - | ||
scRNA | small conditional RNA | - | ||
SgrS RNA | sugar transport-related sRNA | RF00534 | Small RNA that is activated by SgrR in Escherichia coli during glucose-phosphate stress | |
shRNA | short hairpin RNA | - | ||
siRNA | small interfering RNA | - | ||
SL RNA | spliced leader RNA | multiple families | ||
SmY RNA | mRNA trans-splicing | RF01844 | Small nuclear RNAs found in some species of nematode worms, thought to be involved in mRNA trans-splicing | |
snoRNA | small nucleolar RNA | multiple families | ||
snRNA | small nuclear RNA | multiple families | ||
snRNP | small nuclear ribonucleic proteins | - | ||
SPA lncRNA | 5' small nucleolar RNA capped and 3' polyadenylated long noncoding RNA | - | ||
SRP RNA | signal recognition particle RNA | CL00003 | ||
ssRNA | single stranded RNA | - | ||
stRNA | small temporal RNA | - | ||
tasiRNA | trans-acting siRNA | - | ||
tmRNA | transfer-messenger RNA | RF00023 | Bacterial RNA molecule with dual tRNA-like and messenger RNA-like properties | |
uRNA | U spliceosomal RNA | multiple families | ||
vRNA | vault RNA | - | synonym of vtRNA | |
vtRNA | vault RNA | RF00006 | ||
Xist RNA | X-inactive specific transcript | - | ||
Y RNA | Y RNA | RF00019 | Components of the Ro60 ribonucleoprotein particle and necessary for DNA replication through interactions with chromatin and initiation proteins | |
NATs | natural antisense transcripts | - | Natural antisense transcripts encoded within a cell that have transcript complementarity to other RNA transcripts | |
pre-mRNA | precursor messenger RNA | - | Immature single strand of messenger RNA | |
circRNA | circular RNA | - | ||
msRNA | multicopy, single-stranded RNA | - | Products of a retron-encoded reverse transcriptase (RT) which form a RT-msDNA complex that acts as an anti-phage antitoxin | [25] [26] |
cfRNA | cell-free RNA | - |
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule that is essential for most biological functions, either by performing the function itself or by forming a template for the production of proteins. RNA and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are nucleic acids. The nucleic acids constitute one of the four major macromolecules essential for all known forms of life. RNA is assembled as a chain of nucleotides. Cellular organisms use messenger RNA (mRNA) to convey genetic information that directs synthesis of specific proteins. Many viruses encode their genetic information using an RNA genome.
A non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is a functional RNA molecule that is not translated into a protein. The DNA sequence from which a functional non-coding RNA is transcribed is often called an RNA gene. Abundant and functionally important types of non-coding RNAs include transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), as well as small RNAs such as microRNAs, siRNAs, piRNAs, snoRNAs, snRNAs, exRNAs, scaRNAs and the long ncRNAs such as Xist and HOTAIR.
Ribonuclease H is a family of non-sequence-specific endonuclease enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of RNA in an RNA/DNA substrate via a hydrolytic mechanism. Members of the RNase H family can be found in nearly all organisms, from bacteria to archaea to eukaryotes.
Transfer RNA is an adaptor molecule composed of RNA, typically 76 to 90 nucleotides in length. In a cell, it provides the physical link between the genetic code in messenger RNA (mRNA) and the amino acid sequence of proteins, carrying the correct sequence of amino acids to be combined by the protein-synthesizing machinery, the ribosome. Each three-nucleotide codon in mRNA is complemented by a three-nucleotide anticodon in tRNA. As such, tRNAs are a necessary component of translation, the biological synthesis of new proteins in accordance with the genetic code.
Nucleoproteins are proteins conjugated with nucleic acids. Typical nucleoproteins include ribosomes, nucleosomes and viral nucleocapsid proteins.
Nucleic acid structure prediction is a computational method to determine secondary and tertiary nucleic acid structure from its sequence. Secondary structure can be predicted from one or several nucleic acid sequences. Tertiary structure can be predicted from the sequence, or by comparative modeling.
Drosha is a Class 2 ribonuclease III enzyme that in humans is encoded by the DROSHA gene. It is the primary nuclease that executes the initiation step of miRNA processing in the nucleus. It works closely with DGCR8 and in correlation with Dicer. It has been found significant in clinical knowledge for cancer prognosis. and HIV-1 replication.
The U4 small nuclear Ribo-Nucleic Acid is a non-coding RNA component of the major or U2-dependent spliceosome – a eukaryotic molecular machine involved in the splicing of pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA). It forms a duplex with U6, and with each splicing round, it is displaced from the U6 snRNA in an ATP-dependent manner, allowing U6 to re-fold and create the active site for splicing catalysis. A recycling process involving protein Brr2 releases U4 from U6, while protein Prp24 re-anneals U4 and U6. The crystal structure of a 5′ stem-loop of U4 in complex with a binding protein has been solved.
Histone H2A.Z is a protein encoded by the H2AZ1 gene in humans.
Function
Histones are basic nuclear proteins that are responsible for the nucleosome structure of the chromosomal fiber in eukaryotes. Nucleosomes consist of approximately 146 base pairs(bp) of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer, which includes pairs of each of the four core histones. The chromatin fiber is further compacted by the interaction of a linker histone, H1, with the DNA between the nucleosomes to form higher order chromatin structures. The H2AFZ gene encodes a replication-independent member of the histone H2A family that is distinct from other members of the family.
Biological Importance
Studies in mice have shown that this particular histone is required for embryonic development and indicate that lack of functional histone H2A leads to embryonic lethality.
CUG triplet repeat, RNA binding protein 1, also known as CUGBP1, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the CUGBP1 gene.
Ribonucleases P/MRP protein subunit POP1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the POP1 gene.
Ribonuclease P/MRP protein subunit POP5 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the POP5 gene.
Ribonuclease P protein subunit p38 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the RPP38 gene.
Ribonuclease P protein subunit p29 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the POP4 gene.
In a screen of the Bacillus subtilis genome for genes encoding ncRNAs, Saito et al. focused on 123 intergenic regions (IGRs) over 500 base pairs in length, the authors analyzed expression from these regions. Seven IGRs termed bsrC, bsrD, bsrE, bsrF, bsrG, bsrH and bsrI expressed RNAs smaller than 380 nt. All the small RNAs except BsrD RNA were expressed in transformed Escherichia coli cells harboring a plasmid with PCR-amplified IGRs of B. subtilis, indicating that their own promoters independently express small RNAs. Under non-stressed condition, depletion of the genes for the small RNAs did not affect growth. Although their functions are unknown, gene expression profiles at several time points showed that most of the genes except for bsrD were expressed during the vegetative phase, but undetectable during the stationary phase. Mapping the 5' ends of the 6 small RNAs revealed that the genes for BsrE, BsrF, BsrG, BsrH, and BsrI RNAs are preceded by a recognition site for RNA polymerase sigma factor σA.
In molecular biology, trans-activating CRISPR RNA (tracrRNA) is a small trans-encoded RNA. It was first discovered by Emmanuelle Charpentier in her study of the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes, a type of bacteria that causes harm to humanity. In bacteria and archaea, CRISPR-Cas constitute an RNA-mediated defense system that protects against viruses and plasmids. This defensive pathway has three steps. First, a copy of the invading nucleic acid is integrated into the CRISPR locus. Next, CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) are transcribed from this CRISPR locus. The crRNAs are then incorporated into effector complexes, where the crRNA guides the complex to the invading nucleic acid and the Cas proteins degrade this nucleic acid. There are several CRISPR system subtypes.
In molecular biology, the SR1 RNA is a small RNA (sRNA) produced by species of Bacillus and closely related bacteria. It is a dual-function RNA which acts both as a protein-coding RNA and as a regulatory sRNA.
Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) are a group of non-LTR retrotransposons that are widespread in the genome of many eukaryotes. LINEs contain an internal Pol II promoter to initiate transcription into mRNA, and encode one or two proteins, ORF1 and ORF2. The functional domains present within ORF1 vary greatly among LINEs, but often exhibit RNA/DNA binding activity. ORF2 is essential to successful retrotransposition, and encodes a protein with both reverse transcriptase and endonuclease activity.
Retrozymes are a family of retrotransposons first discovered in the genomes of plants but now also known in genomes of animals. Retrozymes contain a hammerhead ribozyme (HHR) in their sequences, although they do not possess any coding regions. Retrozymes are nonautonomous retroelements, and so borrow proteins from other elements to move into new regions of a genome. Retrozymes are actively transcribed into covalently closed circular RNAs and are detected in both polarities, which may indicate the use of rolling circle replication in their lifecycle.
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