Biomolecules 2013, 3(1), 143-156; doi:10.3390/biom3010143
Review

Why YRNAs? About Versatile RNAs and Their Functions

Marcel Köhnemail, Nikolaos Pazaitisemail and Stefan Hüttelmaier* email
Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Section Molecular Cell Biology, ZAMED, Heinrich-Damerow-Str.1, D-6120 Halle, Germany
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 31 December 2012; in revised form: 27 January 2013 / Accepted: 31 January 2013 / Published: 8 February 2013
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Abstract: Y RNAs constitute a family of highly conserved small noncoding RNAs (in humans: 83-112 nt; Y1, Y3, Y4 and Y5). They are transcribed from individual genes by RNA-polymerase III and fold into conserved stem-loop-structures. Although discovered 30 years ago, insights into the cellular and physiological role of Y RNAs remains incomplete. In this review, we will discuss knowledge on the structural properties, associated proteins and discuss proposed functions of Y RNAs. We suggest Y RNAs to be an integral part of ribonucleoprotein networks within cells and could therefore have substantial influence on many different cellular processes. Putative functions of Y RNAs include small RNA quality control, DNA replication, regulation of the cellular stress response and proliferation. This suggests Y RNAs as essential regulators of cell fate and indicates future avenues of research, which will provide novel insights into the role of small noncoding RNAs in gene expression.
Keywords: Y RNA; Ro60; La; ncRNA

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MDPI and ACS Style

Köhn, M.; Pazaitis, N.; Hüttelmaier, S. Why YRNAs? About Versatile RNAs and Their Functions. Biomolecules 2013, 3, 143-156.

AMA Style

Köhn M, Pazaitis N, Hüttelmaier S. Why YRNAs? About Versatile RNAs and Their Functions. Biomolecules. 2013; 3(1):143-156.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Köhn, Marcel; Pazaitis, Nikolaos; Hüttelmaier, Stefan. 2013. "Why YRNAs? About Versatile RNAs and Their Functions." Biomolecules 3, no. 1: 143-156.

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