RNA
by Benjamin Kheyfets, Daniella Lorman, and Clem Doucette / art by Phoebe Kinder
RNA: A NEW FACE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST NEURODEGENERATION
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n the time it takes for you to read this sentence, over seven million cells in your body have died. And by this same time tomorrow, an unfathomable 1011 more of your cells will have died and been replaced by new cells [1]. As alarming as this fact may sound, cell death, known as apoptosis, is an essential process to biological life. Apoptosis is critical in regulating a number of different bodily functions, ranging from the shapes of our organs to the amount of neurons in our nervous system [1]. However, certain conditions, like neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), can cause apoptosis to go haywire, and when unplanned apoptosis occurs in the brain, it can result in catastrophic effects [2]. Right now, nearly 6.5 million Americans are suffering from some form of neurodegenerative disease, and estimates show that by 2030, as many as 12 million Americans may suffer from a NDD [3]. NDDs occur when the cells of the nervous system — including those of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves — function abnormally. Symptoms may be mild at first; short-term memory loss or coordination issues are common early indications of NDDs. However, as cells continue to deteriorate, symptoms such as loss of communication, seizures, and skin infections gradually increase in severity until they become fatal [4]. Unfortunately, no NDD is currently curable [5]. While some treatments do exist, such as medications and therapies, these interventions can only slow disease progression and manage symptoms. Given the ever-increasing urgency to find cures and treatments for NDDs, biotech and pharmaceutical companies have been heavily investing into research endeavors. A growing body of new research shows that genetic regulation, specifically via RNA, may play a huge role in the development of these diseases [6]. With
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this new and extensive research, RNA and its role in NDD development and progression has garnered a considerable spike in interest. This review will explore the role of RNA in neurodegenerative disease, with the goal of illuminating potential options for future treatments or cures.
RNA: MORE THAN A MESSENGER In order to explore how RNA is involved in NDDs, it is essential to first understand RNA’s relationship to DNA. Imagine that you are in charge of developing a standardized cookbook for a nationwide fast food chain. Each restaurant receives the same cookbook, which has specific information about the ingredients needed to make each meal and exactly how to prepare it. Our DNA, found in the nuclei of most of our cells, is just like this cookbook. A DNA molecule consists of alternating sugars and phosphate groups; these components create DNA’s famous double helix structure. The “steps” of DNA’s ladder-like structure are made up of four different molecules called nucleotides: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine, abbreviated with the letters A, T, G, and C [7]. A group of three letters (i.e. CCG, ATG, and ACT) is called a codon, which codes for an amino acid — the building blocks of proteins, and the ingredients in our recipes. Like recipes in a cookbook, these unique orderings of nucleotides provide the blueprints for creating different amino acids, and subsequently proteins. Just like cooking, where the ingredients you use determine the dish you end up with, the order of the amino acids in a protein determines the identity and function of that protein, and the order of the letters of DNA determine the genetic code of the individual.
GREY MATTERS JOURNAL AT VASSAR COLLEGE | ISSUE 2
