22 Jan 07

Oxford scientists have identified a surprising way of switching off a gene involved in cell division. The mechanism involves a form of RNA, a molecule found in cell nuclei, whose role was previously unknown and could have implications for preventing the growth of cancerous tumour cells.

RNA plays an important and direct role in the synthesis of proteins, the building blocks of our bodies. However, scientists have known for some time that not all types of RNA are directly involved in protein synthesis. Now, in research published online in Nature, a team of scientists has shown that one particular type of RNA plays a key role in regulating the gene implicated in control of tumour growth. The research is funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council.

The Human Genome Project identified about 34,000 genes responsible for producing proteins. The remaining part - in fact, most of the genome - constituted what was considered to be 'junk' DNA with no function. However, latest estimates show that this "junk" DNA produces around half a million varieties of RNA of unknown functions.

'There's been a quiet revolution taking place in biology during the past few years over the role of RNA,' said Dr Alexandre Akoulitchev, a Senior Research Fellow at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology. 'Scientists have begun to see junk DNA as having a very important function. The variety of RNA types produced from this junk is staggering and the functional implications are huge.'