Enzyme of the month April edition - Ribonuclease

 

Thank you so much for joining me in my one more blog about enzymes! This month we are going to explore Ribonuclease. In my February edition of this series, I briefly mentioned DNA replication. DNA replication is a part of the process of protein production. After DNA replication, the cell engages in a process known as Transcription where the DNA is converted to RNA. The  RNA is then transported out of the nucleus of the cell to be synthesized into proteins. This process is commonly referred to as Translation. 

            Cells produce the

messenger RNA which acts as a messenger that transports the genetic information

to the cytoplasm of the cell. Now cells do not produce protein continuously. I

mean cells are busy creatures. They would not waste their time and energy on something

they do not have to do continuously. That is why it becomes crucial for the cells to regulate the mRNA levels in the cells. There are numerous regulatory

modifications and degradation. When the DNA is transcribed into mRNA, the mRNA

mechanisms that are employed by the cells to ensure that the cells are not overly producing proteins. One of the most important mechanisms is mRNA is regarded as a pre-mRNA. This pre-mRNA has to undergo many modifications that

proteins. Few of these modifications include an addition of a 5’cap and a 3’tail to protect the mRNA from degradation. Once the

make it into a proper genetic information carrier that can translate into

job of the mRNA is done, it is degraded by RNase or ribonuclease enzyme. There

are many types of RNase, but the most common type used in laboratory research

to a 5’ end of the mRNA. Therefore, RNase are important enzymes that regulate

is RNase A. This enzyme cleaves a single-stranded RNA molecule from its 3’ end

the gene expression in the cells.