%0 Journal Article
%T Why YRNAs? About Versatile RNAs and Their Functions
%A Marcel K£¿hn
%A Nikolaos Pazaitis
%A Stefan H¨¹ttelmaier
%J Biomolecules
%D 2013
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/biom3010143
%X Y£¿RNAs constitute a family of highly conserved small noncoding RNAs (in humans: 83-112 nt; Y1, Y3, Y4 and Y5). They are transcribed from individual genes by RNA-polymerase£¿III and fold into conserved stem-loop-structures. Although discovered 30 years ago, insights into the cellular and physiological role of Y£¿RNAs remains incomplete. In this review, we will discuss knowledge on the structural properties, associated proteins and discuss proposed functions of Y£¿RNAs. We suggest Y£¿RNAs to be an integral part of ribonucleoprotein networks within cells and could therefore have substantial influence on many different cellular processes. Putative functions of Y£¿RNAs include small RNA quality control, DNA replication, regulation of the cellular stress response and proliferation. This suggests Y£¿RNAs as essential regulators of cell fate and indicates future avenues of research, which will provide novel insights into the role of small noncoding RNAs in gene expression.
%K Y£¿RNA
%K Ro60
%K La
%K ncRNA
%U http://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/3/1/143