5: RNA-targeted pharmacology

Question 1

mRNA

Answer 1

messenger RNA

Question 2

miRNA

Answer 2

microRNA (natural)

Question 3

RNAi

Answer 3

RNA interference (natural and induced)

Question 4

siRNA

Answer 4

small interfering RNA (synthetic)

Question 5

ASO

Answer 5

antisense oligonucleotide

Question 6

RISC

Answer 6

RNA-induced silencing complex

Question 7

5’-UTR

Answer 7

5’-untranslated region (of an RNA)

Question 8

3’-UTR

Answer 8

3’-untranslated region (of an RNA)

Question 9

ORF

Answer 9

open reading frame

Question 10

What are the different mRNA functions?

Answer 10

1. transcription (making mRNA from DNA template)
2. intron removal (splicing)
3. microRNA regulation (regulation of translation and stability)
4. non-microRNA regulated stability

Question 11

What is “silencing”

Answer 11

anything that prevents a protein being made from mRNA (impeding the ability of mRNA from making proteins)

Question 12

How does silencing occcur? (2 ways)

Answer 12

1. prevent the mRNA from being translated into protein
2. destroy the mRNA