Why in the News?
Chinese researchers found that A-to-I mRNA editing, once considered random, plays a key role in development, especially in the wheat pathogen Fusarium graminearum.
About A-to-I mRNA Editing:
- mRNA: Our cells use DNA as a guide to make proteins. First, they copy DNA into messenger RNA (mRNA).
- A-to-I editing: This is a process where the letter adenosine (A) in mRNA is changed to inosine (I) by special enzymes called ADARs. The cell reads inosine as guanine (G), which can change the protein being made.
- Why it matters:
- It helps the cell make different versions of proteins without changing the DNA.
- It can remove early stop signals, allowing full proteins to be made.
- It helps the cell adapt to different conditions or stages of life.
What did scientists discover in the fungus?
- Fungal Discovery: Scientists found that the fungus edits over 26,000 mRNA sites during reproduction, not during normal growth.
- Development Role: This editing fixes early stop signals in key genes, helping the fungus develop and reproduce properly.
- Stress Adaptation: Some genes work better unedited under stress, showing the fungus edits only when needed for survival.
Does this happen in humans?
Yes, A-to-I editing is common in humans:
- In the brain: It helps with brain growth, memory, and learning.
- In the immune system: It helps fight infections and control inflammation.
Health Implications:
- Health Risks: Faulty editing is linked to epilepsy and certain cancers.
- Therapeutic Potential: Understanding this process can lead to new treatments and improve gene-editing technologies.
| [UPSC 2016] In the context of the developments in Bioinformatics, the term ‘transcriptome’, sometimes seen in the news, refers to:
Options: (a) a range of enzymes used in genome editing (b) the full range of mRNA molecules expressed by an organism * (c) the description of the mechanism of gene expression (d) a mechanism of genetic mutations taking place in cells |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
