kms

snRNPs

small nuclear ribonucleoproteins that act within SPLICEOSOMES in nucleus to SPLICE OUT introns/intervening sequences from mRNA

Retroviruses

viruses containing RNA instead of DNA which serves as template for complementary DNA (cDNA), REVERSING DNA->RNA flow; process under direction of reverse transcriptase; usually incorporates into host genome as prophage (ex. HIV, which causes AIDS)

rRNA

involved in transLATION and makes up ribosome along with proteins; has 1 mRNA binding sites and 3 tRNA binding sites (A, P, E)

Degradation of mRNA

type of GENE REGULATION; some mRNA (bacterial) degraded within minutes, so are adaptable to changes; humans continually translate protein for hours or weeks (less adaptable); mRNA in developing blood cells STABLE and translate hemoglobin for long time

ncRNA

non-protein-coding DNA transcribed into RNA; bind to and assisted by ARGONAUTE PROTEINS; REGULATE DNA; miRNA, siRNA, piRNA

miRNA

microRNA; type of ncRNA about 22 nucleotides long that DEGRADES OR BLOCKS mRNA TRANSLATION

siRNA

small interfering RNA; similar to miRNA, BINDS AND DESTROYS mRNA; blocking of gene expression called RNA interference (RNAi)

RNAi

RNA interference; blocking of gene expression by non-coding RNA (small interfering RNA/siRNA); SILENCES GENES

piRNA

piwi-associated RNA; guide PIWI proteins to complementary RNAs derived from “jumping genes”; PROTECT GERM CELLS FROM TRANSPOSON ATTACKS