RNA HELICASE Meaning and
Definition
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RNA helicase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in various cellular processes involving RNA molecules. It belongs to the helicase family of enzymes characterized by their ability to unwind double-stranded RNA or RNA-DNA hybrids. This protein class derives its name from the helicase activity, which refers to their ability to separate the two strands of a nucleic acid duplex using the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis.
RNA helicases are essential for many fundamental cellular processes, such as transcription, translation, mRNA degradation, RNA splicing, ribosome biogenesis, and RNA transport. These enzymes use the energy from ATP hydrolysis to unwind RNA secondary structures and facilitate the formation of single-stranded RNA regions, which are crucial for the functioning of RNA-protein complexes.
RNA helicases are highly specialized, and different members of this enzyme family are involved in specific cellular processes. For instance, DExD/H-box helicases are essential for mRNA export from the nucleus, while DEAD-box helicases are involved in almost all aspects of RNA metabolism, including RNA folding, RNA-protein complex assembly, and RNA localization.
Apart from their role in normal cellular processes, RNA helicases have also been implicated in various diseases, including viral infections, cancer, and neurological disorders. Therefore, studying the function and regulation of RNA helicases has become a significant area of research with potential therapeutic implications.
Common Misspellings for RNA HELICASE
- ena helicase
- fna helicase
- tna helicase
- 5na helicase
- 4na helicase
- rba helicase
- rma helicase
- rja helicase
- rha helicase
- rnz helicase
- rns helicase
- rnw helicase
- rnq helicase
- rna gelicase
- rna belicase
- rna nelicase
- rna jelicase
- rna uelicase
- rna yelicase
- rna hwlicase
Etymology of RNA HELICASE
The word "RNA Helicase" combines two terms: "RNA" and "Helicase".
1. RNA: The term "RNA" stands for "ribonucleic acid". It was coined in the 1930s by scientists Phoebus Levene and Jacob Mathias Schoenheimer. They derived the term from "ribose nucleic acid" to emphasize that this molecule contains a sugar called ribose. RNA is a biological molecule that plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including protein synthesis and gene expression.
2. Helicase: The term "Helicase" comes from the Greek words "helix" meaning "spiral" and "-ase" signifying an enzyme. Helicase enzymes were discovered in the mid-20th century, and they were named after their ability to unwind and separate the two strands of DNA or RNA helices.
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