title: Non-coding RNA genes and the modern RNA world.
abstract: Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) genes produce functional RNA molecules rather than encoding proteins. However, almost all means of gene identification assume that genes encode proteins, so even in the era of complete genome sequences, ncRNA genes have been effectively invisible. Recently, several different systematic screens have identified a surprisingly large number of new ncRNA genes. Non-coding RNAs seem to be particularly abundant in roles that require highly specific nucleic acid recognition without complex catalysis, such as in directing post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression or in guiding RNA modifications.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. eddy@genetics.wustl.edu
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Eddy
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D022661:RNA, Untranslated