Genetic regulation by non-coding RNAs  

作　　者：QI Liwang, LI Xinmin, ZHANG Shougong & AN Daochang Laboratory of Cell Biology, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China Functional Genomics Facility, Division of Biological Science, University of Chicago, Chicago 60637, USA China National Center for Biotechnology and Development, Ministry of Science and Technology, Beijing 100081, China 

出　　处：《Science China(Life Sciences)》2006年第3期201-217,共17页中国科学（生命科学英文版）

基　　金：support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.30571517);National Transgenic Plants and Industria--lization Program(Grant Nos.J2002-B-005&JY03-B-28-02);National Key Basic Research Program("973")(Grant No.G1999016003).

摘　　要：Large scale cDNA sequencing and genome tiling array studies have shown that around 50% of genomic DNA in humans is transcribed, of which 2% is translated into proteins and the remaining 98% is non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). There is mounting evidence that these ncRNAs play critical roles in regulating DNA structure, RNA expression, protein translation and protein functions through multiple genetic mechanisms, and thus affect normal development of organisms at all levels. Today, we know very little about the regulatory mechanisms and functions of these ncRNAs, which is clearly essential knowledge for understanding the secret of life. To promote this emerging research subject of critical importance, in this paper we review (1) ncRNAs' past and present, (2) regulatory mechanisms and their functions, (3) experimental strategies for identifying novel ncRNAs, (4) experimental strategies for investigating their functions, and (5) methodologies and examples of the application of ncRNAs.Large scale cDNA sequencing and genome tiling array studies have shown that around 50% of genomic DNA in humans is transcribed, of which 2% is translated into proteins and the remaining 98% is non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). There is mounting evidence that these ncRNAs play critical roles in regulating DNA structure, RNA expression, protein translation and protein functions through multiple genetic mechanisms, and thus affect normal development of organisms at all levels. Today, we know very little about the regulatory mechanisms and functions of these ncRNAs, which is clearly essential knowledge for understanding the secret of life. To promote this emerging research subject of critical importance, in this paper we review (1) ncRNAs' past and present, (2) regulatory mechanisms and their functions, (3) experimental strategies for identifying novel ncRNAs, (4) experimental strategies for investigating their functions, and (5) methodologies and examples of the application of ncRNAs.

关 键 词：NON-CODING RNA  GENETIC regulation  CDNA library  gene. 

分 类 号：Q75[生物学—分子生物学]