As soon as Watson and Crick deduced DNA's structure half a century ago, their thoughts turned to RNA. Arguably the most important molecule in the living world, RNA not only connects gene to protein, but its catalytic capability inspired the idea of an "RNA world," where the single-stranded nucleic acid, or something like it, enabled chemistry to become biology. Today, RNA is still revealing its secrets.
Recent reports indicate that there's more to the informational content of a messenger RNA (mRNA) than the mere mirror of a gene's DNA base sequence. These eclectic molecules interact directly with metabolites, control the levels of other transcripts just by their own abundance, and even alert the translational machinery to block production of potentially toxic, stunted proteins. Deranged transcriptional controls even lie behind cancer.
"I am one of the most faithful advocates of sophisticated function by RNA. But even I am astounded by what ...
