Ribosomal RNA and other cellular RNA (rRNA/RNA)

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and other cellular RNAs are essential nucleic acids that govern the flow of genetic information from DNA to proteins. rRNA serves as the primary structural and catalytic component of the ribosome, facilitating the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) into polypeptide chains (NIH: Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis). Other RNA types, including transfer RNA (tRNA) and small nuclear RNA (snRNA), are vital for amino acid delivery and mRNA processing, respectively. These molecules are classic targets for antimicrobial therapy, where antibiotics like macrolides and aminoglycosides exploit structural differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes to selectively inhibit bacterial growth (PubMed: PMC3536663). Furthermore, the development of RNA-targeted therapies, such as antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs, has expanded the therapeutic landscape to include the direct modulation of disease-associated mRNA and non-coding RNAs in human cells (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery: 19, 673–694). This broad category of targets is fundamental to cellular life, and its disruption can lead to cell death or the correction of genetic defects. However, the lack of specificity in this target definition often requires further sub-classification into specific bacterial or human RNA species for drug development purposes.

Other names

rRNAmRNAtRNAncRNARibonucleic acidMessenger RNATransfer RNANon-coding RNA

Inhibition of the 30S ribosomal subunit, inhibition of the 50S ribosomal subunit, RNA interference (RNAi) mediated degradation of mRNA, and splice-switching modulation via antisense oligonucleotides (StatPearls: Aminoglycosides; PubMed: PMC4812394).