A new study published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research reveals that squids have the ability to change the code of their genes by modifying their RNA long after they have left the cell nucleus. This amazing ability has never been observed in any other animal except octopus and cuttlefish.
In typical human reproduction, babies are born with an XX or XY karyotype (chromosomal pattern) made up of a mixture of their parents’ DNA. These inherited genes code for everything in the body, from hair color to organ function. Our genes are cemented and, although certain mechanisms can alter their expression, mutations can trigger the appearance of diseases, they will remain unchanged throughout our lives.
What species has this “super power”?
It is the long-finned squid ( Doryteuthis pealeii ). The scientists discovered that in the nerves of this squid (or neurons), the mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) was being edited outside the nucleus, in a part of the cell called the axon , the long, thin neural projections that transmit electrical impulses to others. neurons. This mRNA editing allows squid to finely fine-tune the proteins they produce at local sites, meaning they can drastically alter the behavior of their biological machinery as needed, perhaps to help you quickly adapt to a new environment. This is a strange and at the same time fantastic discovery, as it could lead to better genetic treatments for humans to treat neurological disorders; thus, in humans, axon dysfunction is associated with many disorders of this type.
This discovery provides another jolt to the “central dogma” of molecular biology, which states that genetic information is faithfully transmitted from DNA to messenger RNA to protein synthesis.
“We have shown that squid can modify RNA at the periphery of the cell. That means that, in theory, they can modify the function of the protein to meet the localized demands of the cell. That gives them a lot of freedom to adapt genetic information. , as necessary “, explain Isabel C. Vallecillo-Viejo and Joshua Rosenthal of the Marine Biology Laboratory (MBL), in Woods Hole (USA).
Researchers are not sure why squid have developed this ability , implying that it plays a beneficial role. We have previously observed mRNA editing within the nucleus in octopuses and cuttlefish, which has led experts to question whether perhaps this ability has contributed to superior intelligence in these invertebrates.
“RNA editing is much more secure than DNA editing. If you make a mistake, the RNA just turns around and disappears,” explains Rosenthal.
What’s its purpose? What is the purpose of altering genes in squid? What mechanism activates this unique edition? Many questions have arisen after this finding. His answer could lead us to one day being able to edit human RNA and ensure a much safer and more effective procedure than the genetic cutter with the CRISPR tool.
Referencia: Joshua J C Rosenthal, Eli Eisenberg, Simon R Levinson, Kavita J Rangan, Sonya E Nemes, Maria F Montiel-Gonzalez, Juan F Diaz Quiroz, Noa Liscovitch-Brauer, Isabel C Vallecillo-Viejo. Spatially regulated editing of genetic information within a neuron. Nucleic Acids Research, 2020; DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa172
