Technion researchers discovered "coordinators" whose role is to coordinate all steps in the control of genetic expression

The "coordinators" stick to the RNA (see frame) during its production, accompany it throughout its life and serve as "kosher supervisors" who take care of the qualification of each of the operations it performs. The study was published in the scientific journal Cell

The Technion researchers from the laboratory of Professor Moti Khoder at the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine at the Technion discovered "adaptors" that actively participate in the control of each of the four main stages of genetic expression (see box). The "coordinators" stick to the RNA (see frame) during its production, accompany it throughout its life and serve as "kosher supervisors" who take care of the qualification of each of the operations it performs.
Professor Khoder uses relatively simple model cells, Schmer cells, in order to examine one of the central questions in biology: Is there a match between all the stages of genetic expression control (see box) and how do they function as a system? His laboratory has developed a unique research approach that examines all the stages and their coordination. In a work published a long time ago in the Cell newspaper, his research partners, Liat Harel-Sharvit, Dr. Naama Eldad, Gal Chaimovitz Oren Barkai and Dr. Leah Doak found a new type of factors, "adaptors", which represent a new role in the control of genetic expression: the coordination of all steps. One of the interesting features of the coordinators is their active participation in each of the above stages. The "acrobatic" ability to participate and control all the steps has not been reported in the literature so far and may be typical only for coordinators. The researchers found that the twin is essential for the ability to control genetic expression to respond correctly and quickly to changes in environmental conditions. Professor Khoder believes that the two correlations found in this work represent a larger family of correlations, some of which focus on matching the expression of functional groups of genes (a functional group is responsible for a finite trait controlled by several genes).

Such supercorrelators explain how the stages of gene expression control make up a complete system, in which each component works in full coordination with all the other components. For example, the coordinator "makes sure" that the production of RNA in the nucleus will be coordinated with the same RNA degradation mechanism. in the cytoplasm. Coordination between the production and degradation mechanism is critical for obtaining a correct level of RNA. in the cell The role of the coordinator is analogous to the role of an orchestra conductor who transforms the complex of sounds into a musical piece.

The control of genetic expression: "A gene is a unit of information for the creation of RNA that is translated into protein," explains Professor Khoder. "Only when the gene is 'expressed' are its products created that affect the function of the cell. The decision whether to express a gene is critical to life and is carried out by a special mechanism called the 'control of genetic expression'. This control consists of steps in the center of which is the RNA molecule. Messenger: 1. RNA production. in the core 2. Exporting R.N.A. from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. 3. Translation of the N.A. For protein 4. Breakdown of h.r.a. Each of the stages is uniquely controlled by dozens of factors. Every cell in our body contains the same genes that make up the human genome. Despite this, different cells express a different repertoire of genes that allows each cell to function uniquely. The control of genetic expression is a mechanism that allows this variation. "

The roles of RNA molecules: A variety of RNA molecules in the cell are used in the process of expressing the genetic information found in the sequence of building blocks of the "cellular hard disk" - the DNA. The information contained in the DNA sequence is used to create a complementary RNA sequence, called a "transcript", which contains the information encoded in the DNA. Later, the RNA molecule created is translated into a protein, which is created according to the RNA sequence. The protein is often its final product from the DNA coder. Also, there are RNA molecules in the cell that do not code for protein. These molecules are also coded by the DNA and have different roles, for example, an enzymatic role in the process of translation and protein synthesis. Until a few years ago, researchers believed that the RNA molecule is used as an "assistant molecule" to exploit the potential of the genetic material inherent in DNA. However, in recent years it turns out that this molecule has additional and essential roles, such as participation in cellular control mechanisms.