OLE RNA
Encyclopedia
OLE RNA is a conserved RNA
structure present in certain bacteria
. The RNA averages roughly 610 nucleotides in length. The only known RNAs that are longer than OLE RNA are ribozyme
s such as the group II intron
and ribosomal RNA
s. The exceptional length and highly conserved structure of OLE RNA prompted the hypothesis that OLE RNA could be a ribozyme, or otherwise perform an intricate biochemical task.
OLE RNAs are predominantly found in the order Clostridiales, but other kinds of Firmicutes contain OLE RNAs as well. Organisms containing OLE RNA are predominantly extremophile
s and anaerobes.
OLE RNAs are transcribed as RNA, and experiments in Bacillus halodurans
show that it is transcribed in a mRNA with 10 other gene
s. The adjacent genes are conserved in the vicinity of OLE RNA in most species containing it, but in Desulfitobacterium hafniense they are located elsewhere on the chromosome
. OLE RNAs are processed from the larger transcript into a shorter RNA that roughly corresponds to the conserved, ~610-nucleotide structure. Genes encoding a protein class of unknown function are typically located immediately downstream of OLE RNAs, and the presence of this protein class is correlated in species with the presence of OLE RNA. This correlation suggests a possible functional association between the RNA and the protein.
RNA
Ribonucleic acid , or RNA, is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life....
structure present in certain bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
. The RNA averages roughly 610 nucleotides in length. The only known RNAs that are longer than OLE RNA are ribozyme
Ribozyme
A ribozyme is an RNA molecule with a well defined tertiary structure that enables it to catalyze a chemical reaction. Ribozyme means ribonucleic acid enzyme. It may also be called an RNA enzyme or catalytic RNA. Many natural ribozymes catalyze either the hydrolysis of one of their own...
s such as the group II intron
Group II intron
Group II introns are a large class of self-catalytic ribozymes as well as mobile genetic element found within the genes of all three domains of life. Ribozyme activity can occur under high-salt conditions in vitro. However, assistance from proteins is required for in vivo splicing...
and ribosomal RNA
Ribosomal RNA
Ribosomal ribonucleic acid is the RNA component of the ribosome, the enzyme that is the site of protein synthesis in all living cells. Ribosomal RNA provides a mechanism for decoding mRNA into amino acids and interacts with tRNAs during translation by providing peptidyl transferase activity...
s. The exceptional length and highly conserved structure of OLE RNA prompted the hypothesis that OLE RNA could be a ribozyme, or otherwise perform an intricate biochemical task.
OLE RNAs are predominantly found in the order Clostridiales, but other kinds of Firmicutes contain OLE RNAs as well. Organisms containing OLE RNA are predominantly extremophile
Extremophile
An extremophile is an organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to most life on Earth. In contrast, organisms that live in more moderate environments may be termed mesophiles or neutrophiles...
s and anaerobes.
OLE RNAs are transcribed as RNA, and experiments in Bacillus halodurans
Bacillus halodurans
Bacillus halodurans is a rod-shaped, Gram-positive, motile and spore-forming bacterium which lives in soil. In a genomic comparison with Bacillus subtilis, B. halodurans strain C-125 - originally an unclassified Bacillus strain - was found to contain unique genes and sigma factors that may have...
show that it is transcribed in a mRNA with 10 other gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
s. The adjacent genes are conserved in the vicinity of OLE RNA in most species containing it, but in Desulfitobacterium hafniense they are located elsewhere on the chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
. OLE RNAs are processed from the larger transcript into a shorter RNA that roughly corresponds to the conserved, ~610-nucleotide structure. Genes encoding a protein class of unknown function are typically located immediately downstream of OLE RNAs, and the presence of this protein class is correlated in species with the presence of OLE RNA. This correlation suggests a possible functional association between the RNA and the protein.