Non-coding RNA sequences in the genome undergo transcription to produce an RNA molecule, but that RNA is not translated into a protein. Nonetheless, non-coding RNAs collectively form just as complex an interacting environment as proteins, important to the function of the cell. Non-coding RNAs remain poorly explored, as much of the work on cell biology to date has focused on proteins. It is unclear if the present catalog of non-coding RNAs is complete, and many of the known entries have unknown functions. Here, the argument is made for non-coding RNAs to collectively be an important determinant of species life span, based on the differences observed between short-lived and long-lived species.
Lifespan is a complex process that interacts with multifactors, yet it is fundamentally an evolutionary process in which genetic factors evolve to cope with lifespan evolution. Thus, it is essential to uncover the genetic factors that contribute to lifespan variations among different species. Current studies have focused on protein-coding genes in the search for longevity determinants, but the results from these studies have not provided sufficient evidence to explain the evolutionary lifespan disparity, even between a small group of species or individuals. The genetic factors contributing to large-scale lifespan gaps between species remain elusive.
When species genomes evolve, they usually acquire more noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) than proteins. For example, the human genome contains a larger number of ncRNAs than its mouse counterpart, whereas most proteins remain similar. Importantly, these ncRNAs are actively transcribed with their own functional system and they endogenously execute fundamental functions, including lifespan extensions. Therefore, it is reasonable to hypothesize that ncRNAs play a key role in the evolution of the lifespan of an organism.
The present study analyzed multiple large datasets and revealed that ncRNAs indeed work as the primary evolutionary drivers extending animal lifespans and serve as crucial determinants of reproductive systems. Longevity and reproduction are two most important traits of any organism evolution, suggesting that ncRNAs work as the fundamental drivers driving the long evolutionary process and they carry crucial functions in the organism's genome.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1...gmg.2024.100034
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