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Molecular biology

A surprise beginning for RNA

Nature volume 535, pages 359–360 (2016)Cite this article

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Organic molecules called coenzymes are central to metabolism, but have also been found to act as components of RNA in bacteria. A study reveals how coenzymes are incorporated into RNA. See Letter p.444

The absence of a molecular cap structure at the start of messenger RNA molecules has long been considered to be a hallmark of bacteria1. However, in the past decade2,3, chemical modifications have been discovered in bacterial RNA that structurally resemble the caps found in mRNA from eukaryotes (organisms whose cells contain a nucleus). These modified building blocks are coenzymes, which are well known to biochemists for their role as helpers in enzyme-catalysed metabolic reactions. On page 444, Bird et al.4 report that the bacterial capping mechanism is fundamentally different from that of eukaryotes. The authors then extend their study to unravel why some RNA sequences carry this cap, whereas others do not.

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Figure 1: Capping mechanisms.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Katharina Höfer and Andres Jäschke are at the Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,

    Katharina Höfer & Andres Jäschke

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  1. Katharina Höfer
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  2. Andres Jäschke
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Correspondence to Andres Jäschke.

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Höfer, K., Jäschke, A. A surprise beginning for RNA. Nature 535, 359–360 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature18908

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