A New Study Finds Surprising Connection Of Nucleic Acids With Fats
New study has revealed how lipids and RNA may directly interact, and how this may influence RNA activity in unanticipated ways.
Author:Suleman ShahReviewer:Han JuMay 05, 202243 Shares1.1K Views
Every cell on the earth is encased in a fatty layer of lipids. Lipid membranes safeguard the contents of cells, including genetic material such as RNA and DNA, from harm. New study from the Technical University of Dresden's (TU Dresden) B CUBE – Center for Molecular Bioengineering has revealed how lipids and RNA may directly interact, and how this may influence RNA activity in unanticipated ways. The study's results may contribute to a better understanding of how RNA is regulated in primordial or synthetic biological systems, as well as the creation of better RNA vaccines.
What Is The Purpose Of Nucleic Acids In The Body?
Nucleic acid is a family of macromolecules that may be found in all cells and viruses and plays a vital role in their replication. Aspects of nucleic acids' activities have to do with the storage and expression of genetic information, respectively. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that encodes the information that cells require in order to produce proteins.
Structure And Types Of Nucleotides
A nucleotide consists of three parts: a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and one or more phosphategroups. The carbon residues in pentose are labelled 1′ through 5′. (the prime distinguishes these residues from those in the base, which are numbered without using a prime notation). The base is joined to the ribose at the 1′ position, while the phosphate is attached at the 5′ position. When a polynucleotide is created, the arriving nucleotide's 5′ phosphate bonds to the 3′ hydroxyl group at the end of the expanding chain. Nucleotides contain two forms of pentose: deoxyribose (found in DNA) and ribose (found in RNA). Deoxyribose has a similar structure to ribose, but instead of an OH at the 2′ position, it contains an H. Bases are classified into two types: purines and pyrimidines. Purines have two rings, whereas pyrimidines have a single ring.
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic substance found in all living species, from bacteria to multicellular animals. It can be present in eukaryotic nuclei, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes, the DNA is free-floating inside the cytoplasm rather than contained in a membrane envelope.
Nucleic Acid And Fat Binding
Tomasz Czerniak and James Sáenz showed that lipids may directly influence the activity of RNA in a basic synthetic system in a recent study published in the journal PNAS. "This opens up an entirely new way of thinking about how we may employ RNA-lipid interactions for bioengineering, for example, delivery of mRNA therapeutics," explains Dr. James Sáenz, senior author of the paper and research group head at the B CUBE — Center for Molecular Bioengineering. Furthermore, their studies can serve to provide light on the origins of ancient life.
A prominent theory on the beginning of life holds that self-replicating RNA molecules gave rise to life years before the emergence of DNA and proteins. In this case, the simple and efficient modulation of RNA activity would be critical for the organization of early life on an old Earth. The researchers investigated how different kinds of RNA molecules interacted with lipid membranes. They discovered that some RNAs bind lipids better than othersand that this was dependent on the RNA molecule's sequence and structure. Guanine, one of the four building units of RNA, was very important for RNA to adhere to the lipids. Adding more guanine chains to the RNAs made them stickier, allowing the researchers to adjust the intensity of RNA-lipid connections. It was discovered that guanine not only increased RNA-lipid binding directly but also made it stickier by stimulating the folding of RNAs into various structures. A G-quadruplex is a kind of structure found in cells that are known to be a significant component of RNA activity and regulation." This suggests that RNA-lipid interactions may still occur in current cells, maybe as a vestige of a long-extinct RNA-lipid world "Sáenz said.
After discovering how to tailor RNA to cling better to lipids, the researchers demonstrated that such RNA-lipid interactions might be utilized to modulate the activity of RNAs that catalyze chemical events. "I'm not aware of anyone else demonstrating sequence-specific impacts in the way a lipid may influence RNA catalysis," adds Professor Gerald Joyce of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, who was not involved in the work.
Suleman Shah
Author
Suleman Shah is a researcher and freelance writer. As a researcher, he has worked with MNS University of Agriculture, Multan (Pakistan) and Texas A & M University (USA). He regularly writes science articles and blogs for science news website immersse.com and open access publishers OA Publishing London and Scientific Times. He loves to keep himself updated on scientific developments and convert these developments into everyday language to update the readers about the developments in the scientific era. His primary research focus is Plant sciences, and he contributed to this field by publishing his research in scientific journals and presenting his work at many Conferences.
Shah graduated from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (Pakistan) and started his professional carrier with Jaffer Agro Services and later with the Agriculture Department of the Government of Pakistan. His research interest compelled and attracted him to proceed with his carrier in Plant sciences research. So, he started his Ph.D. in Soil Science at MNS University of Agriculture Multan (Pakistan). Later, he started working as a visiting scholar with Texas A&M University (USA).
Shah’s experience with big Open Excess publishers like Springers, Frontiers, MDPI, etc., testified to his belief in Open Access as a barrier-removing mechanism between researchers and the readers of their research. Shah believes that Open Access is revolutionizing the publication process and benefitting research in all fields.
Han Ju
Reviewer
Hello! I'm Han Ju, the heart behind World Wide Journals. My life is a unique tapestry woven from the threads of news, spirituality, and science, enriched by melodies from my guitar. Raised amidst tales of the ancient and the arcane, I developed a keen eye for the stories that truly matter. Through my work, I seek to bridge the seen with the unseen, marrying the rigor of science with the depth of spirituality.
Each article at World Wide Journals is a piece of this ongoing quest, blending analysis with personal reflection. Whether exploring quantum frontiers or strumming chords under the stars, my aim is to inspire and provoke thought, inviting you into a world where every discovery is a note in the grand symphony of existence.
Welcome aboard this journey of insight and exploration, where curiosity leads and music guides.
Latest Articles
Popular Articles