[The big world of the small RNAs].
In the last ten years a great number of RNAs have been discovered that function by regulating gene expression and do not code for a protein. This RNAs are named ncRNAs or sRNAs (non coding RNAs or small RNAs). More than 70 sRNAs have been documented in Escherichia coli and function by inhibiting/ promoting translation or degradation, some have intrinsic catalytic properties and others modify the activity of a protein. The mechanisms of action of some of them will be reviewed as well as the efforts to find new sRNAs by systematic oriented searches.
Ríos
Juan Miranda
JM
Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Mor., 62250, México. juanm@ibt.unam.mx
D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000502:physiology*
D022661:RNA, Untranslated