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How old are RNA Networks?

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RNA Infrastructure and Networks

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 722))

Abstract

Some major classes of RNAs (such as mRNA, rRNA, tRNA and RNase P) are ubiquitous in all living systems so are inferred to have arisen early during the origin of life. However, the situation is not so clear for the system of RNA regulatory networks that continue to be uncovered, especially in eukaryotes. It is increasingly being recognised that networks of small RNAs are important for regulation in all cells, but it is not certain whether the origin of these networks are as old as rRNAs and tRNA. Another group of ncRNAs, including snoRNAs, occurs mainly in archaea and eukaryotes and their ultimate origin is less certain, although perhaps the simplest hypothesis is that they were present in earlier stages of life and were lost from bacteria. Some RNA networks may trace back to an early stage when there was just RNA and proteins, the RNP-world; before DNA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Allan Wilson Centre of Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Toni Daly

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    X. Sylvia Chen

  3. Institute of Molecular BioSciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Toni Daly & David Penny

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  1. Toni Daly
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  2. X. Sylvia Chen
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  3. David Penny
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Lesley J. Collins

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Daly, T., Chen, X.S., Penny, D. (2011). How old are RNA Networks?. In: Collins, L.J. (eds) RNA Infrastructure and Networks. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 722. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0332-6_17

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