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The steroid receptor RNA activator is the first functional RNA encoding a protein
Author(s) -
Chooniedass-Kothari S.,
Emberley E.,
Hamedani M.K.,
Troup S.,
Wang X.,
Czosnek A.,
Hube F.,
Mutawe M.,
Watson P.H.,
Leygue E.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.03.104
Subject(s) - rna , biology , messenger rna , activator (genetics) , western blot , rna interference , microbiology and biotechnology , northern blot , non coding rna , rna silencing , gene expression , gene , genetics
The steroid receptor RNA activator (SRA) has previously been characterized as belonging to the growing family of functional non‐coding RNAs. However, we recently reported the Western blot detection of a putative endogenous SRA protein (SRAP) in breast cancer cells. Herein, we successfully suppressed the expression of this protein through specific RNA interference assay, unequivocally confirming its existence. Moreover, using database searches and Western blot analysis, we also showed that SRAP is highly conserved among chordata. Overall, our results suggest that SRA is the first example of a new class of functional RNAs also able to encode a protein.