Lessons from the RNA World: humility and hubris
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
- Corresponding author: wickens{at}biochem.wisc.edu
This extract was created in the absence of an abstract.
The research community I have lived in for the past 20 years, near the 3′ end of mRNAs, began as a small enclave of labs and now is a vibrant city full of them. The field has moved from outlines of how 3′ ends were formed to the biochemistry of all the components involved, and now includes mRNA regulation via 3′ UTRs, developmental controls, miRNAs, and networks of interacting mRNAs, non-coding RNAs and proteins.
These stunning developments in mRNA regulation have included beautiful biochemistry, genetics and biology. But perhaps what has brought me the most joy in RNA research is the sense that I am watching a Fellini film—or perhaps, to be a bit more contemporary, I should say a Harry Potter movie. Just when I think I know what is going on, onto the screen comes something entirely unexpected: self-splicing, miRNAs, riboswitches, new families of regulators, each amazingly different …
