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Locked RNA Editing Yields Odd Fly Behavior

At the level of proteins, organisms can adapt by editing their RNA — and an editor can even edit itself. Brown University scientists working with fruit flies found that “locking down” the self-editing process at two extremes created some strange behaviors. They also found that the process is significantly affected by temperature.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Because a function of RNA is to be translated as the genetic instructions for the protein-making machinery of cells, RNA editing is the body’s way of fine-tuning the proteins it produces, allowing us to adapt. The enzyme ADAR, which does this editing job in the nervous system of creatures ranging from mice to men, even edits itself. In a new study that examined the self-editing process and locked it down at two extremes in fruit flies, Brown University scientists found some surprising insights into how this “fine-tuning of the fine-tuner” happens, including bizarre behavioral effects that come about when the self-editor can’t edit. (more…)

Altered Gene Tracks RNA Editing in Neurons

By Guest PostDecember 26, 2011Scienceadar, brown university, disease, DNA, engineered gene, epilepsy, errors, fluorescent readout, fruit flies, gene expression, glowing green indicator, jellyfish gene, key enzyme, key step, kyle jay, living organisms, mental retardation, molecular biology, molecular reporter, moth, nervous system, radar, rna, rna repair, robert reenan, rube goldberg, schizophrenia, stop codon, suicidal depression, t a g, t g g, ultraviolet light, yannis a savva

*RNA editing is a key step in gene expression. Scientists at Brown University report in Nature Methods that they have engineered a gene capable of visually displaying the activity of the key enzyme ADAR in living fruit flies.*

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — To track what they can’t see, pilots look to the green glow of the radar screen. Now biologists monitoring gene expression, individual variation, and disease have a glowing green indicator of their own: Brown University biologists have developed a “radar” for tracking ADAR, a crucial enzyme for editing RNA in the nervous system.

The advance gives scientists a way to view when and where ADAR is active in a living animal and how much of it is operating. In experiments in fruit flies described in the journal Nature Methods, the researchers show surprising degrees of individual variation in ADAR’s RNA editing activity in the learning and memory centers of the brains of individual flies. (more…)

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Locked RNA Editing Yields Odd Fly Behavior

Altered Gene Tracks RNA Editing in Neurons