Molecular Biology of RNA

RNA plays a central, and until recently, somewhat underestimated role in the genetics underlying all forms of life on earth. This versatile molecule not only plays a crucial part in the synthesis of proteins from a DNA template, but is also intrinsically involved in the regulation of gene expression, and can even act as a catalyst in the form of a ribozyme. This latter property has led to the hypothesis that RNA - rather than DNA - could have played an essential part in the origin of life itself.

This landmark text provides a systematic overview of the exciting and rapidly moving field of RNA biology. Key pioneering experiments, which provided the underlying evidence for what we now know, are described throughout, while the relevance of the subject to human disease is highlighted via frequent boxes.

For the second edition of Molecular Biology of RNA, more introductory material has been incorporated at the beginning of the text, to aid students studying the subject for the first time. Throughout the text, new material has been included - particularly in relation to RNA binding domains, non-coding RNAs, and the connection between RNA biology and epigenetics. Finally, a new closing chapter discusses how exciting new technologies are being used to explore current topical areas of research.

David Elliott, Professor of Genetics, Newcastle University,Michael Ladomery, Reader in Biomedical Science, University of the West of England

1. Introduction to Molecular Biology of RNA
2. RNA can form versatile structures
3. Catalytic RNAs
4. The RNA-binding proteins
5. Pre-mRNA splicing by the spliceosome
6. Regulated alternative splicing
7. Pre-mRNA splicing defects in development and disease
8. Co-transcriptional pre-mRNA processing
9. Nucleocytoplasmic traffic of messenger RNA
10. Messenger RNA localization
11. Translation of messenger RNA
12. Stability and degradation of mRNA
13. RNA editing
14. The biogenesis and nucleocytoplasmic traffic of non-coding RNAs
15. The 'macro' RNAs: long non-coding RNAs and epigenetics
16. The short non-coding RNAs and gene silencing
17. RNA biology: future perspectives