What is it about?
Expansion segments of human 28S ribosomal RNA are the largest known, and possess the largest numbers of guanine and cytosine nucleotides across all ribosomal RNAs. The size and constitution of these segments enable strong interaction with proteins and nucleic acids outside of the ribosome, and especially with informational molecules, the messenger RNAs. As a completely novel finding, this potential of the segments is shown to be at least five times larger than in any other ribosomal RNA.
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Why is it important?
The expansion segments of 28S RNA could importantly perform in mobilization and positioning of messenger RNAs in the making of proteins on the ribosome, as well as in oriented discharge of both the messenger and the protein product upon completion. These roles could be much more differentiated in primates compared to other mammals, and especially to non-mammals, and even in man compared to other primates. An improved handling of messenger RNAs due to enlargement of the expansion segments and enrichment in guanine and cytosine may have contributed to evolutionary success of hominids.
Perspectives
Hope is that the expansion segments of 28S RNA would, at long last, receive a due scrutiny in terms of association with messenger RNAs as well as with cytoplasmic structures such as the endoplasmic membranes.
Prof. Steven L Parker
UTHSC Memphis
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Expansion Segments of 28S Ribosomal RNA Extensively Match Human Messenger RNAs, Frontiers in Genetics, March 2018, Frontiers,
DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00066.
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