scholarly journals  The structure and role of mammalian sperm RNA: a review

2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 57-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bukowska ◽  
B. Kempisty ◽  
H. Piotrowska ◽  
P. Sosinska ◽  
M. Wozna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Messenger Rnas ◽  
Paternal Genome ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
Complex Population ◽  
Chromatin Organisation

The main role of sperm is the delivery of the paternal genome into the oocyte during fertilisation. However, several lines of evidence have indicated that mammalian spermatozoa contribute more than just their DNA, namely, they also deliver a large range of RNA molecules. Microarray analysis has revealed a complex population of 3000 different kinds of messenger RNA that are delivered to oocytes by sperm and ejaculated spermatozoa are estimated to contain about 0.015 pg of total RNA. Some of the transcripts encode proteins crucial for early embryo development. Messenger RNAs from sperm also help to protect the paternal genes, which have an integral role soon after fertilisation. The molecular participation of the oocyte during fertilisation is well understood but the function of the sperm in this process remains unclear. During spermatogenesis the structure of the male haploid genome is permanently modified. Transition proteins (TNPs), protamines (PRMs) and histones (HILS-spermatid specific linker histone) play a unique role in spermatid chromatin compaction. In this review, the structure and role of sperm RNA as well as chromatin organisation during spermatogenesis are discussed.  

scholarly journals Noncanonical Roles of tRNAs: tRNA Fragments and Beyond

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhangli Su ◽  
Briana Wilson ◽  
Pankaj Kumar ◽  
Anindya Dutta
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Variation ◽  
Protein Translation ◽  
Nutrient Sensing ◽  
Trna Genes ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Messenger Rnas ◽  
Regulatory Pathways ◽  
Transfer Rnas ◽  
Rna Molecules

As one of the most abundant and conserved RNA species, transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are well known for their role in reading the codons on messenger RNAs and translating them into proteins. In this review, we discuss the noncanonical functions of tRNAs. These include tRNAs as precursors to novel small RNA molecules derived from tRNAs, also called tRNA-derived fragments, that are abundant across species and have diverse functions in different biological processes, including regulating protein translation, Argonaute-dependent gene silencing, and more. Furthermore, the role of tRNAs in biosynthesis and other regulatory pathways, including nutrient sensing, splicing, transcription, retroelement regulation, immune response, and apoptosis, is reviewed. Genome organization and sequence variation of tRNA genes are also discussed in light of their noncanonical functions. Lastly, we discuss the recent applications of tRNAs in genome editing and microbiome sequencing.

The Absence of State Consent to Advisory Opinions of the International Court of Justice: Judicial and Political Restraints

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-207
Author(s):  
Mahasen Aljaghoub
Keyword(s):  
Main Role ◽  
Advisory Opinion ◽  
International Court Of Justice ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
International Court ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
The Icj ◽  
Palestinian Territory ◽  
Advisory Opinions

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, (UN) and its Statute is an integral part of the UN's Charter. The court's integral role within the UN has largely been misunderstood especially in the way the court has viewed its advisory jurisdiction. The ICJ always asserts that the delivery of an advisory opinion represents its participation in the UN's work and thus, in the absence of compelling reasons, a request for an opinion ought not to be refused. Some commentators note that the principle that the ICJ must participate in the work of the Organisation might sometimes conflict with its judicial character, which might result in not embracing the philosophy of “judicial restraint” in the court's advisory jurisdiction. They also contend that the absence of consent in advisory cases has led the court to overlook its judicial restraint. This article argues that those commentators have overlooked the main role of the ICJ's advisory function in clarifying the law and providing guidance for future action by the UN organs, and has consequently called for applying the principle of consent as a condition for giving an advisory opinion on questions relating to disputes pending between States. In the present article, the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory opinion is analysed to see whether the absence of Israeli consent has undermined the ICJ's judicial character. The author is of the view that the court, as the principal judicial organ of the UN, should, by a cautious judicial policy, provide enlightenment to the UN and participate to achieving its goals while at the same time adhering to its judicial character.

scholarly journals MicroRNAs in skin and wound healing

2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 543-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaideep Banerjee ◽  
Yuk Cheung Chan ◽  
Chandan K. Sen
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Skin Diseases ◽  
Mrna Degradation ◽  
Messenger Rnas ◽  
Skin Development ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Posttranscriptional Gene Regulation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNA molecules ∼22 nt in length. miRNAs are capable of posttranscriptional gene regulation by binding to their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), leading to mRNA degradation or suppression of translation. miRNAs have recently been shown to play pivotal roles in skin development and are linked to various skin pathologies, cancer, and wound healing. This review focuses on the role of miRNAs in cutaneous biology, the various methods of miRNA modulation, and the therapeutic opportunities in treatment of skin diseases and wound healing.

Expression profile of MicroRNA: An Emerging Hallmark of Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 642-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uzma Zaheer ◽  
Muhammed Faheem ◽  
Ishtiaq Qadri ◽  
Nargis Begum ◽  
Hadi M. Yassine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Messenger Rnas ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Posttranscriptional Gene Regulation ◽  
Non Coding Rna ◽  
Prognostic Utility ◽  
Additional Level ◽  
The Stability

MicroRNA (miRNAs), a class of small, endogenous non-coding RNA molecules of about 21-24 nucleotides in length, have unraveled a new modulatory network of RNAs that form an additional level of posttranscriptional gene regulation by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs). These miRNAs possess the ability to regulate gene expression by modulating the stability of mRNAs, controlling their translation rates, and consequently regulating protein synthesis. Substantial experimental evidence established the involvement of miRNAs in most biological processes like growth, differentiation, development, and metabolism in mammals including humans. An aberrant expression of miRNAs has been implicated in several pathologies, including cancer. The association of miRNAs with tumor growth, development, and metastasis depicts their potential as effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Furthermore, exploitation of the role of different miRNAs as oncogenes or tumor suppressors has aided in designing several miRNA-based therapeutic approaches for treating cancer patients whose clinical trials are underway. In this review, we aim to summarize the biogenesis of miRNAs and the dysregulations in these pathways that result in various pathologies and in some cases, resistance to drug treatment. We provide a detailed review of the miRNA expression signatures in different cancers along with their diagnostic and prognostic utility. Furthermore, we elaborate on the potential employment of miRNAs to enhance cancer cell apoptosis, regress tumor progression and even overcome miRNA-induced drug resistance.

scholarly journals The Regulatory Role of MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (19) ◽  
pp. 4940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Yi Loh ◽  
Brendan P. Norman ◽  
Kok-Song Lai ◽  
Nik Mohd Afizan Nik Abd. Rahman ◽  
Noorjahan Banu Mohamed Alitheen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Messenger Rnas ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Regulate Gene Expression ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Current State ◽  
Non Coding Rna ◽  
State Of Research

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules which function as critical post-transcriptional gene regulators of various biological functions. Generally, miRNAs negatively regulate gene expression by binding to their selective messenger RNAs (mRNAs), thereby leading to either mRNA degradation or translational repression, depending on the degree of complementarity with target mRNA sequences. Aberrant expression of these miRNAs has been linked etiologically with various human diseases including breast cancer. Different cellular pathways of breast cancer development such as cell proliferation, apoptotic response, metastasis, cancer recurrence and chemoresistance are regulated by either the oncogenic miRNA (oncomiR) or tumor suppressor miRNA (tsmiR). In this review, we highlight the current state of research into miRNA involved in breast cancer, with particular attention to articles published between the years 2000 to 2019, using detailed searches of the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The post-transcriptional gene regulatory roles of various dysregulated miRNAs in breast cancer and their potential as therapeutic targets are also discussed.

scholarly journals MicroRNAs as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Heart Failure

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 77-79
Author(s):  
István Adorján Szabó ◽  
Atilla Frigy
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Adaptive Processes ◽  
Altered Gene

AbstractHeart failure still represents a real challenge both in everyday practice and research, due to the complex issues related to its pathogenesis and management. Humoral biomarkers have emerged in the last decades as useful tools in the diagnosis, risk stratification and guiding the treatment of heart failure. These molecules are related to different pathological and adaptive processes, like myocardial injury, neurohormonal activation and cardiac remodeling, their most widespread representatives being the natriuretic peptides (e.g. NT-proBNP). The role of altered gene expression and transcription as the basis of myocardial structural and functional changes in heart failure is largely recognized. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs which have a major role in post-transcriptional gene expression by interfering with messenger RNA molecules. Our short review summarizes the molecular biology of miRNAs and their possible role as biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure. Furthermore, the therapeutical perspectives conferred by these molecules are also presented.

scholarly journals MicroRNAs and Cardiovascular Diseases

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Nishiguchi ◽  
Toshio Imanishi ◽  
Takashi Akasaka
Keyword(s):  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Plaque Rupture ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Rna Sequences ◽  
Posttranscriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Endothelium Dysfunction ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Made In

Coronary artery diseases (CAD) and heart failure have high mortality rate in the world, although much progress has been made in this field in last two decades. There is still a clinical need for a novel diagnostic approach and a therapeutic strategy to decrease the incidence of CAD. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved noncoding small RNA molecules that regulate a large fraction of the genome by binding to complementary messenger RNA sequences, resulting in posttranscriptional gene silencing. Recent studies have shown that specific miRNAs are involved in whole stage of atherosclerosis, from endothelium dysfunction to plaque rupture. These findings suggest that miRNAs are potential biomarkers in early diagnosis and therapeutic targets in CAD. In the present review, we highlight the role of miRNAs in every stage of atherosclerosis, and discuss the prospects of miRNAs in the near future.

scholarly journals Selection against maternal microRNA target sites in maternal transcripts

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Marco
Keyword(s):  
Small Rnas ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Microrna Target ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Functional Impact ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
Maternal Transcripts ◽  
Gene Transcripts

In animals, before the zygotic genome is expressed, the egg already contains gene products deposited by the mother. These maternal products are crucial during the initial steps of development. In Drosophila melanogaster a large number of maternal products are found in the oocyte, some of which are indispensable. Many of these products are RNA molecules, such as gene transcripts and ribosomal RNAs. Recently, microRNAs ? small RNA gene regulators ? have been detected early during development and are important in these initial steps. The presence of some microRNAs in unfertilized eggs has been reported, but whether they have a functional impact in the egg or early embryo has not being explored. I have extracted and sequenced small RNAs from Drosophila unfertilized eggs. The unfertilized egg is rich in small RNAs and contains multiple microRNA products. Maternal microRNAs are often encoded within the intron of maternal genes, suggesting that many maternal microRNAs are the product of transcriptional hitch-hiking. Comparative genomics analyses suggest that maternal transcripts tend to avoid target sites for maternal microRNAs. I also developed a microRNA target mutation model to study the functional impact of polymorphisms at microRNA target sites. The analysis of Drosophila populations suggests that there is selection against maternal microRNA target sites in maternal transcripts. A potential role of the maternal microRNA mir-9c in maternal-to-zygotic transition is also discussed. In conclusion, maternal microRNAs in Drosophila have a functional impact in maternal protein-coding transcripts.

Defining protective responses to pathogens: cytokine profiles in leprosy lesions

Science ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 254 (5029) ◽  
pp. 277-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Yamamura ◽  
K Uyemura ◽  
RJ Deans ◽  
K Weinberg ◽  
TH Rea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Interleukin 10 ◽  
Interleukin 4 ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
Messenger Rnas ◽  
Interleukin 5 ◽  
Immunological Mechanisms

The immunological mechanisms required to engender resistance have been defined in few infectious diseases of man, and the role of specific cytokines is unclear. Leprosy presents clinically as a spectrum in which resistance correlates with cell-mediated immunity to the pathogen. To assess in situ cytokine patterns, messenger RNA extracted from leprosy skin biopsy specimens was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction with 14 cytokine-specific primers. In lesions of the resistant form of the disease, messenger RNAs coding for interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma were most evident. In contrast, messenger RNAs for interleukin-4, interleukin-5, and interleukin-10 predominated in the multibacillary form. Thus, resistance and susceptibility were correlated with distinct patterns of cytokine production.

Role of spectrin in membrane fusion and in shape change of human erythrocyte ghost

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-329
Author(s):  
Hideo Hayashi ◽  
Yoshikazu Hirai ◽  
John T. Penniston
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Human Erythrocyte ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Slight Modification ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Bank Blood ◽  
Human Erythrocyte Ghost

Spectrin is a membrane associated protein most of which properties have been tentatively elucidated. A main role of the protein has been assumed to give a supporting structure to inside of the membrane. As reported previously, however, the isolated spectrin molecule underwent self assemble to form such as fibrous, meshwork, dispersed or aggregated arrangements depending upon the buffer suspended and was suggested to play an active role in the membrane conformational changes. In this study, the role of spectrin and actin was examined in terms of the molecular arrangements on the erythrocyte membrane surface with correlation to the functional states of the ghosts.Human erythrocyte ghosts were prepared from either freshly drawn or stocked bank blood by the method of Dodge et al with a slight modification as described before. Anti-spectrin antibody was raised against rabbit by injection of purified spectrin and partially purified.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document