Authors: Oleg Saldaña Bethancourth , Jorge David Mendez-Rios
This paper focuses on the diversity of functions and types of RNA, a crucial molecule in cell biology and genetics. RNAs are divided into several categories according to their function and structure. Messenger RNA (mRNA) mediates protein synthesis by copying genetic information from DNA and carrying it to ribosomes. Ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) are part of ribosomes and are essential for protein synthesis. Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) carry amino acids for protein synthesis. In addition to these, there are RNAs with catalytic activity called ribozymes, which are involved in various chemical reactions, such as RNA splicing and cleavage. Regulatory RNAs, such as microRNAs and interfering RNAs, modulate gene expression and have applications in gene research and gene therapy. Antisense RNAs inhibit specific genes, and long-stranded non-coding RNAs are involved in biological processes such as genetic imprinting and gene regulation in eukaryotes.
Within the last points we wish to highlight the importance of RNAs in biology and their implication in diseases, such as cancer. The possible therapeutic applications of some RNAs, such as the use of RNA interference to treat viral diseases, are also mentioned.