Is RNA stable?5 answersRNA stability is a critical aspect influenced by factors like RNA decay rates, storage conditions, and interactions with ribonucleoprotein complexes. Various methods and reagents have been developed to stabilize RNA, such as using high temperatures and specific pH conditions with ammonium sulfate, or employing RNAstable® to store RNA in a dehydrated state at room temperature, protecting it from degradation. Additionally, RNA stability is linked to cellular processes like cell death, aging, and disease, emphasizing its importance in maintaining cellular RNA concentrations. Understanding RNA stability is crucial for preserving RNA integrity, which is essential for its functions in coding for proteins, structural roles, and regulatory functions within the cell.
What is the function of circular RNA?4 answersCircular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to have various important functions. They can act as miRNA sponges, regulate cell proliferation, and participate in virus replication. CircRNAs are involved in gene regulation and can control various biological and molecular processes, including transcription, translation, and splicing events. They exhibit cell-type specific expression patterns and can function as biomarkers or therapeutic targets in diseases. CircRNAs are stable in cells due to their circular structure and can influence the course of diseases, including autophagy and drug resistance. They are highly expressed in mammalian cells and show cell/tissue-specific expression patterns. Dysregulation of circRNAs has been observed in various cancers, where they can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors and modulate different cell signaling pathways. Overall, circRNAs play important roles in gene regulation, disease pathogenesis, and cellular processes, making them a subject of growing research interest.
Why circular RNAs are important to study for cancer?5 answersCircular RNAs (circRNAs) are important to study for cancer because they have been found to play significant roles in various aspects of cancer development and progression. Firstly, circRNAs have been shown to encode peptides or proteins through cap-independent translation mechanisms, which can contribute to the occurrence and development of cancer. Secondly, circRNAs have been found to have specific functions in different types of cancer. For example, in B-cell lymphoma, circPVT1 and circZDHHC11 have been shown to support cell growth. In prostate cancer, circRNAs have been implicated in regulating tumor progression, treatment resistance, and therapeutic response. In colorectal cancer, circRNAs have been associated with gene regulation and cellular processes such as proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. Lastly, circRNAs have been identified as potential regulators of cancer immunotherapy, highlighting their importance in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, studying circRNAs can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of cancer development and potentially lead to novel therapeutic strategies.
How do circular RNAs regulate gene expression?5 answersCircular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate gene expression through various mechanisms. They can act as miRNA sponges, binding and sequestering miRNAs, thereby preventing them from targeting and degrading their mRNA targets. Additionally, circRNAs can interact with RNA binding proteins (RBPs), acting as scaffolds or recruiters for RBPs, which can modulate gene expression. Some circRNAs have been found to have transcriptional regulatory functions, influencing the expression of specific genes. Furthermore, circRNAs can produce short peptides with active biological functions, adding another layer of complexity to their regulatory role. The tissue- and cell type-specific expression of circRNAs suggests that they may have specific biological functions in different contexts. Understanding the mechanisms by which circRNAs regulate gene expression can provide insights into their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in various diseases.
How stable are DNA methylation changes after exposure?5 answersDNA methylation changes after exposure can be stable and persist over time. Prenatal exposure to air pollution, such as NO2, can lead to persistent DNA methylation changes that are still present in childhood. Similarly, chronic exposure to nanoparticles (NP) in occupationally exposed workers can result in long-term DNA methylation pattern shifts. Prenatal and early life exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) can induce stable DNA methylation changes in offspring that are associated with impaired lung development and increased risk of asthma and wheeze. Additionally, DNA methylation profiles can be altered following radiation treatment, with some changes persisting for up to 14 days after exposure. Psychotherapy, such as Narrative Exposure Therapy, can also lead to DNA methylation changes in individuals with war-related childhood trauma.
Stability of egcg?5 answersEGCG stability can be affected by various factors such as temperature, storage duration, pH, NaCl concentration, and encapsulation methods. The stability of EGCG during storage at low temperature (8 °C) was found to decrease by 20.11% after 32 hours, while storage at 25 °C resulted in a decrease of 26.73%. Encapsulation of EGCG in emulsified oil droplets using protein-stabilized emulsions improved its stability, with retention of EGCG increasing about 2 and 33 times after thermal treatment and 10 weeks of storage at 4 °C. EGCG bilosomes, a new delivery system, showed greater stability and bioavailability compared to liposomes and niosomes, with a retention rate of 71.64% after incubation in simulated intestinal fluid for 2 hours. Encapsulation of EGCG using hordein nanoparticles also improved its stability, with a remaining amount of encapsulated EGCG 1.31-fold and 1.52-fold higher than free EGCG at 4 °C and 25 °C, respectively. Additionally, the stability of EGCG can be enhanced by synthesizing EGCG palmitate, which showed significantly superior stability compared to EGCG.