RNA molecules are essential for gene expression, acting as messengers that carry genetic information from DNA to the protein-making machinery of the cell. However, some RNA molecules are very short-lived, existing for only a few seconds or minutes, making them challenging to study.
The new technique, called SLAM-seq (for Short-Lived RNA Analysis by Mate-Pair Sequencing), overcomes this challenge by using a combination of chemical labelling and high-throughput sequencing to capture and identify short-lived RNA molecules.
Using SLAM-seq, researchers were able to identify thousands of short-lived RNA molecules in human cells and analyse their expression patterns. They found that these short-lived RNAs are involved in a variety of cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis.
The researchers also discovered that the expression of short-lived RNAs is tightly coordinated with the activity of RNA polymerase II, the enzyme that transcribes DNA into RNA. This suggests that short-lived RNAs play an important role in regulating gene transcription.
The new technique provides a powerful tool for studying the role of short-lived RNAs in cellular processes, and could lead to the development of new therapies for diseases that are caused by disruptions in RNA metabolism.
The study is published in the journal Nature.
