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Horizontal transfer of RNAs: exosomes as mediators of intercellular communication
Author(s) -
Ramachandran Saraswathi,
Palanisamy Viswanathan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
wiley interdisciplinary reviews: rna
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.225
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1757-7012
pISSN - 1757-7004
DOI - 10.1002/wrna.115
Subject(s) - microvesicles , rna , microrna , microbiology and biotechnology , riboswitch , biology , multicellular organism , rna interference , cell signaling , cell , non coding rna , small interfering rna , rna silencing , exosome , computational biology , signal transduction , gene , genetics
Multicellular organisms are similar to biological communities, consisting of various cell types; thus, inter‐cell communication is critical for the functioning of the whole system that ultimately constitutes a living being. Conventional models of cellular exchange include signaling molecules and direct contact‐mediated cell communications. Exosomes, small vesicles originating from an inward budding of the plasma membrane, represent a new avenue for signaling between cells. This interchange is achieved by packaging RNA species into exosomes endowed with specific cell surface‐targeting motifs. The delivered RNA molecules are functional, and mRNA can be translated into new proteins, while microRNAs (miRNAs) target host mRNAs in the recipient cell. RNA involved in transmitting information or molecules between cells is called exosomal RNA (esRNA). This review summarizes the characteristics of exosomes, specifically focusing on their role in the horizontal transfer of cellular information. WIREs RNA 2012, 3:286–293. doi: 10.1002/wrna.115 This article is categorized under: Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development