Genetic Variability of Regulatory RNAs
A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 September 2024) | Viewed by 1670
Special Issue Editor
Interests: PCR; real-time PCR; miRNA; electrophoresis; SNP; SNV; polymorphism; genetic variation; genetic association
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Although the principal function of our genome is to code for our proteins, it is well-known that it is only 1–2% of our DNA that really determines the primary structure of our polypeptide chains. On the other hand, studies based on RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, etc., have revealed that up to 80–90% of our genome is transcribed to some kind of RNA in some tissues. This points out the significance of several regulatory RNAs that play crucial roles in modulating gene expression and cellular processes without coding for proteins.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA molecules that modulate gene expression by connecting to the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of the target messenger RNAs, resulting in mRNA degradation or translational repression. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) possess a covalently closed loop structure. They can act as miRNA sponges, consequently inhibiting miRNA–mRNA interactions, thereby also fine-tuning gene expression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a heterogeneous group of RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that do not encode proteins. They play a role in diverse regulatory mechanisms, including chromatin remodeling, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, and protein activity modulation. LncRNAs can act as guides, scaffolds, or decoys for protein complexes, RNA-binding proteins, and other regulatory molecules. They play crucial roles in various biological processes, such as development, the immune response, and disease pathogenesis. The dysregulation of lncRNAs has been implicated in several diseases.
The complexity of the picture, as it is, is challenging, not to mention that genetic variations either in the coding region of the regulatory RNAs or in the binding site of these molecules can further modulate these complicated regulatory processes. This Special Issue intends to focus on these exciting pathways. Original research articles related to the importance, medical relevance, physiological function, and pathological function of the genetic variations (polymorphisms, mutations, SNPs, VNTRs, CNVs, etc.) related to regulatory RNAs are welcomed.
Dr. Zsolt Ronai
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- miRNA
- circRNA
- lncRNA
- regulatory RNA
- SNV
- miR-SNP
- VNTR
- CNV
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