When researchers work with RNA, such as when probing the structures of RNAs in solution, they normally synthesize RNA molecules through in vitro transcription using templates that consist of the corresponding DNA molecules amplified by polymerase chain reaction.  These RNA transcripts are easily degraded (i.e., a complete RNA chain is chopped to pieces) by ubiquitous, persistent ribonucleases (RNases).  When an otherwise clean environmental condition is achieved, the source of contaminating RNases is mainly the researchers themselves.  Human skin RNases belong to RNase A superfamily, and are secreted by or originate from dead cells.  Although degradation of experimental RNA is frustrating, the nucleotides cleaved by RNases provide structural information about the degraded RNA molecule.  Human skin RNases specifically cleave single-stranded cytosine residues, and for this study the author uses this characteristic to develop a new analytical method for probing RNA structures in solution.

RNA degradation by human skin RNases provides RNA structural information

245th National Meeting (2013)

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