TAG: GS- 3 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CONTEXT: On October 16, 2024, Wave Life Sciences, a Massachusetts-based biotech company, pioneered clinical-level RNA editing to treat genetic disorders, providing a temporary, reversible alternative to DNA editing.
EXPLANATION:
What is RNA editing:
- The term RNA editing describes molecular processes in which the information content in an RNA molecule is altered. Such changes have been observed in eukaryotes’ tRNA, rRNA and mRNA molecules but not in prokaryotes.
- Demonstrating RNA editing in prokaryotes may only be a matter of time, given the range of species in which various RNA editing processes have been found.
- RNA editing occurs in the nucleus and in mitochondria and plastids, which are thought to have evolved from prokaryotic-like endosymbionts.
- However, most RNA editing processes are evolutionary recent developments that have arisen independently. The diversity of RNA editing mechanisms includes nucleoside modifications such as C to U and A to I, as well as non-templated nucleotide additions and insertions. RNA editing in mRNA effectively alters the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein so that it differs from that predicted by the genomic DNA sequence.
RNA Editing: Mechanism and Technique:
- RNA Editing Process: RNA editing corrects mistakes in mRNA after synthesis but before protein formation, preventing faulty proteins associated with genetic disorders.
- ADAR Enzyme: ADAR (adenosine deaminase acting on RNA) converts adenosine to inosine in mRNA, mimicking guanosine’s function and allowing for accurate protein synthesis.
- Guided RNA (gRNA): A gRNA directs ADAR to specific mRNA segments, allowing site-specific RNA editing for treating genetic disorders.
Advantages and Challenges of RNA vs. DNA Editing
| Advantages of RNA Editing | Challenges of RNA Editing |
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