Types of RNA

mRNA

messenger; determines amino acid sequence

ncRNA

noncoding; any RNA not coding for polypeptide

tRNA

transfer; moves amino acid to growing chain

rRNA

ribosomal; ribosome components

snRNA

small nuclear; components of spliceosomes, catalyze splicing of pre-mRNA in eukaryotes

snoRNA

small nucleolar; chemically modification of other RNAs

TERC

telomerase RNA component; adds telomere repeats to chromosome with telomerase complex

sRNA

small; in prokaryotes, regulation of gene expression by binding to mRNA

CRISPR

clusters of regulatory interspersed short palindromic repeats; guides nucleases (with CRISPR associated sequences - cas) to destroy DNA

sncRNA

small noncoding; short eukaryotic RNA that associates with RISC or RITS to inhibit transcription

siRNA

small interfering; short dsRNA processed by Dicer that function in gene regulation

endo-siRNA

endogenous small interfering; siRNAs from endogenous sources (centromeres + transposons)

miRNA

micro; short dsRNA strands that regulate genes (form hairpin structure prior to processing)

piRNA

piwi-interacting; dsRNA not processed by Dicer, it silences transposons and repetitive sequences in germ cells by associating with piwi protein complex

lncRNA

long noncoding; greater than 200 nt, epigenetic modifications and regulation of transcription factors

circRNA

circular; type of lncRNA that "soaks up" miRNA thus allowing transcription to occur

exRNA

extracellular; used to signal other cells