What Is RNA and What Does It Do? Uses in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

What Is RNA ?

RNA, ribonucleic acid is the abbreviation for this important molecule consisting of long nucleotide chains.

• A nucleotide contains
• a nitrogenous base
• a ribose sugar
• and a phosphate

Just like DNA , RNA is vital to living organisms. RNA, DNA and proteins are the three major biological macromolecules essential to all life forms. In cells, genetic information flows from DNA to RNA and then to proteins. Proteins are the cell's hardest-working components, playing crucial roles as enzymes, structural elements and in cell signaling.

DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, is considered the cell's blueprint, carrying all genetic information needed for growth, nourishment and reproduction. RNA's role is to serve as the cell's DNA photocopy . When a cell needs a protein, it activates the protein's gene and produces multiple copies of the messenger DNA segment as RNA or mRNA. These mRNA copies are then used to translate genetic code into protein. RNA thus increases the protein amount a particular gene can produce at once and provides important control over when and how much protein is made.

- The figure below, where genetic information is stored in chromosomes formed through extensive DNA folding, illustrates how RNA functions during conversion of that information into protein as a DNA template in this process, as depicted.

RNA's roles are broad and fascinating. It also functions as enzymes, ribozymes, accelerating chemical reactions. In many clinically important viruses , RNA rather than DNA carries genetic information. RNA regulates cellular processes such as division, differentiation, growth, senescence and death. Defects in RNA or its regulation contribute to heart disease, certain cancers, stroke and other important human illnesses.

RNA strands are continually formed, broken down and reused. Unlike DNA, RNA is more resistant to damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

RNA's Main Function

RNA primarily transfers the genetic code needed for protein creation from the nucleus to ribosomes. This prevents DNA from leaving the nucleus and reduces damage to DNA and its code. Without RNA, proteins could not be made.

RNAs as Enzymes

Some RNAs are enzymes. They are known to adopt complex tertiary structures and act as catalysts accelerating biological processes. These RNA enzymes, ribozymes, display many features of conventional enzymes.

RNA Use in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Controlling protein synthesis genetically, micro-RNAs(miRNAs) are being studied for both inhibiting cancer-cell proliferation and diagnosing cancer.

Some proteins act as growth factors for cancer cells. To inhibit production of a particular protein, a micro-RNA specially prepared through genetic techniques can bind its messenger RNA during mRNA formation in protein synthesis. The resulting complex is double-stranded. Our immune system recognizes free double-stranded DNA as viral DNA, attacks it and eliminates it.

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