RNAreaktiot

RNAreaktiot refers to the set of biochemical and chemical transformations that involve RNA molecules. The term encompasses the entire lifecycle of RNA in cells, from synthesis to degradation, as well as post-transcriptional modifications and regulatory reactions driven by RNA itself or by RNA–protein complexes. In biology, RNA reactions underlie gene expression, RNA editing, and cellular responses to environmental cues.

RNA reactions include transcription, in which RNA polymerases synthesize RNA from a DNA template; RNA processing events such as splicing, capping, and polyadenylation; and RNA editing, where nucleotide changes alter the RNA sequence after transcription. RNA molecules also undergo chemical modifications, including methylation, pseudouridylation, and other base alterations, which affect stability and interaction with proteins. Enzymatic RNA reactions are catalyzed by protein enzymes and, in some cases, by ribozymes—RNA molecules that act as catalysts—mediating reactions such as self-cleavage, ligation, and transesterification. RNA degradation, carried out by ribonucleases, is another essential class of RNA reactions that regulate RNA abundance and turnover.

Outside the cell, or under laboratory conditions, RNA reactions enable biotechnological tools, including RNA ligation, programmable ribozymes, and RNA-based sensors. Studying RNA reactions uses methods such as sequencing, structural analysis, kinetic assays, and mass spectrometry to characterize reaction pathways and rates.

RNAreaktiot thus provides a unifying descriptor for the chemistry and biology of RNA transformations, highlighting their central role in life and technology.