© 2006 • 768 pp., illus., index
Hardcover • $139 • ISBN  978-087969739-6

Recent studies on the activities of RNA in the cell have revolutionized our understanding of the many roles played by this molecule. The first two editions of The RNA World (1993, 1999) shed light on the pre–biotic era dominated by this versatile molecule, and provided an overview of the state of RNA research at the time. The new third edition of The RNA World updates this perspective, describing the vast array of newly discovered roles for RNA in the modern world. The updated original chapters are supplemented with new chapters on RNA–protein complexes, snRNPs and snoRNPs, telomerase RNA, RNAi, microRNAs, noncoding RNA, and many other subjects. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the biology of nucleic acids and gene regulation and a valuable resource for teaching these concepts.

  “This is a big book, full of information. Although it is a compendium of chapters by different authors, it manages a surprisingly smooth flow and consistency of style....[It’s] a good reference for anyone who wishes to begin to understand the diverse structures, functions and roles of RNA in cell biology.”
      —Nature Genetics

  “As in previous editions of The RNA World, the third edition discusses the potential prebiotic roles of RNA and reviews understanding of the current RNA world. The main difference in this latest edition is that it considers the significantly expanded breadth of RNA function that we now know exists in the modern biosphere by including additional chapters on areas such as riboswitches, microRNAs and RNAi. A particularly pleasing feature of the new book is the diversity of scientific approaches covered, ranging from nucleic acid chemistry through structural biology, modeling and theoretical considerations, to single molecule studies. In summary, this comprehensive and stimulating compendium of reviews of RNA worlds past and present is an essential and enjoyable read for researchers and teachers with interests in the structure and function of nucleic acids and in gene expression. It is a recommended purchase for any research library as well as a wise buy for research groups working in related areas.”
      —Microbiology Today

  “In summary, these chapters are comprehensive, well written, and will be an excellent reference for specialists in the field as well as a fine textbook for advanced graduate courses in RNA biology. I enthusiastically recommend this volume.”
      —The Quarterly Review of Biology

THE ORIGINS OF RNA AND RNA AT THE ORIGIN

1. Setting the Stage. The History, Chemistry, and Geobiology behind RNA

2. Progress toward Understanding the Origin of the RNA World

3. Protocells: Genetic Polymers Inside Membrane Vesicles

BUILDING A FUNCTIONAL RNA

4. Riboswitches and the RNA World

5. Catalytic Strategies of Self–cleaving Ribozymes: Relics of an RNA World?

6. How the Group I Intron Works: A Case Study of RNA Structure and Function

EXITING THE ANCIENT RNA WORLD – SYNTHETASES AND RIBOSOMES

7. RNA, Lipids, and Membranes

8. Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetases: From the RNA World to the Theater of Proteins

9. The Roles of RNA in the Synthesis of Protein

10. Evolution of Ribosomes and Translation from an RNA World

RICHNESS OF RNA ROLES IN MODERN RNA WORLD

11. The RNA World

12. The Ever–Growing World of Small Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins

13. Spliceosome Structure and Function

14. Urdine Insertion/Deletion RNA Editing as a Paradigm for Site–specific Modifications of RNA Molecules

15. Telomerase RNA

16. The Shapely mRNA: Knotting Ventured, Knotting Gained

RNA CONTINUES TO TRIUMPH OVER DNA

17. Group II Introns: Ribozymes that Splice RNA and Invade DNA

18. SINEs and LINEs: Troublemakers, Saboteurs, Benefactors, Ancestors

19. The Biology of Short RNAs

20. Versatile Roles of Small RNA Regulators in Bacteria

21. Large Noncoding RNAs in Mammalian Gene Dosage Regulation

EMERGING TOOLS

22. Predicting RNA Secondary Structure

23. A Modular and Hierarchical Approach for All–Atom RNA Modeling

24. Automated In Vitro Selection and Microarray Applications for Functional RNA Sequences

25. RNA Folding, Unfolding, and Dynamics, One Molecule at a Time

Appendix

Index