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Killing the messenger RNA -- But which one?

02-22-2007 · EurekAlert!

Tiny molecules called microRNAs are able to effectively silence large sets of genes. They do this by specifically binding to and neutralizing another form of RNA called messenger RNA. Now, a new study shows that microRNAs can undergo a kind of molecular editing, and a single substitution in their sequence can redirect them to silence entirely different sets of genes from their unedited counterparts. Further, errors in the editing can lead to serious health problems.

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Keywords: killing, messenger, rna

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