RNA research achieved a significant breakthrough in 2007 and 2008 with the independent discovery of intact noncoding RNA (ncRNA) sequences in the extracellular space. This discovery led to a shift in RNA study, transitioning from their roles within cells to their properties in cell-to-cell communication.
Extracellular ncRNAs travel in extracellular space by associating with extracellular vesicles (EVs) or proteins. Evidence indicates significant roles of these extracellular miRNAs in various processes. The secretion of extracellular ncRNAs is considered a highly regulated process and specifically responds to various physiological or pathological stimuli. This type of molecule is progressively considered a novel type of molecule that signals homeostatic changes between origin and recipient cells.
Despite the recognition of unique functional characteristics and relevance of extracellular ncRNAs, there remains a lack of universally accepted terminology for identifying these molecules. A research team introduces a new nomenclature “RNAkine” for naming extracellular ncRNAs. This unified and distinctive nomenclature reflects the properties of extracellular ncRNAs as regulators in essential biological processes.
Extracellular ncRNAs, such as circular RNAs (circRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), signal recipient cells in a different way, acting as endogenous ncRNAs, and simultaneously targeting different components of biological networks, leading to coordinated and integrated responses.
