Creating innovative drugs by taking RNA and forming small double-strands in specific regions
Our cells constantly produce RNA, which is essential for the synthesis of proteins and the correct functioning of organisms.
Proteins play a fundamental role in the body. Amino acids in proteins synthesize various neurotransmitters that influence our emotions and desires, such as cravings for chocolate. Furthermore, proteins form small channels on cell membranes that communicate between cells and determine compatibility. Proteins can also act as antigens that define the identity of cells, like identifying the players of a sports team by their uniform.
The function of RNA is not only to make proteins. Knowing that only 2% of the human genome contains protein-coding genes, the scientific community long believed the other 98% was junk. Today, the same community defines these residual non-protein-producing genes as noncoding DNA.
Noncoding DNA has a function that is of high scientific interest and attention. Scientists want to know why cells produce so much RNA while maintaining efficiency and avoiding wasted energy. Scientists hypothesized and then proved that RNA also performs other crucial functions. One of their most important function is the ability of RNA to regulate cellular activities.
Found in the nucleus, DNA code converts to RNA by a process of transcription. However, proteins are made in the cytoplasm. Therefore, to carry out their functions RNAs, such as mRNA (messenger RNA), tRNA (transfer RNA), and rRNA (ribosomal RNA), must be exported into the cytoplasm.
