Ribosomal RNA sequencing determines the sequence content of ribosomes, which build proteins in cells. The process involves duplicating and identifying small fragments of RNA. This data can aid in bacterial identification and drug design by targeting unique subsequences in bacterial ribosomal RNA.
Ribosomal ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing is the process of determining the sequence content of the nucleic acids that make up the ribosome. In nearly all cells, ribosomes are macromolecules that build proteins to keep the cell running. They are made up of RNA and a variety of proteins that help RNA work more efficiently. Much of this material in a ribosome is directly involved in building proteins, so determining ribosomal RNA sequencing can provide insight into the final structure of the molecule and how it works. The function and general structure of RNA are well conserved across a variety of species, but the raw sequence is not, and changes in the sequence can be used to infer information about ribosome evolution.
Whether used for bacterial ribosomes or those of more complex organisms, ribosomal RNA sequencing is performed in a similar way. Once the RNA is separated from the ribosome, it is duplicated many times, then broken down into small fragments whose sequences can be easily identified. These small pieces of sequence are then reassembled to generate the newly determined sequence. The task gets more complicated as a sequence gets longer, but the process is still relatively easy for ribosomal RNA, which is relatively small. There is no guarantee that a first attempt at ribosomal RNA sequencing will be correct the first time, so multiple attempts are usually made to verify data quality.
Data obtained from ribosomal RNA sequencing can be used for a variety of purposes, but one of the most common is for bacterial identification. Bacterial ribosomal RNA, in particular, is highly conserved across species, so sequencing allows the unique characteristics of a species to be consolidated into a reference profile. This profile can be used to quickly and easily identify a specific type of bacteria, a test that can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of sufferers. With the advent of improved sequencing technology, this approach has become more common in diagnoses.
A second impact that ribosomal RNA sequencing can have on human health is to aid in the design of drugs and medicines. Bacterial ribosomal RNA sequences have many subsequences that are unique to bacteria, so targeting these regions with antimicrobial drugs can kill bacteria without harming humans. Ribosomal RNA sequencing data alone does not provide enough data to create drugs, but it does give scientists regions to focus on for future studies and drug design. Medicinal molecules can be engineered that bind to the sequences and disable the ribosome. A variety of current medicines use this technique to fight disease.
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