RNA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does RNA mean? 

• RNA (noun)
  The noun RNA has 1 sense:

1. (biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated with microsomes; it transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm and controls certain chemical processes in the cell

  Familiarity information: RNA used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RNA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated with microsomes; it transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm and controls certain chemical processes in the cell

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

ribonucleic acid; RNA

Context example:

ribonucleic acid is the genetic material of some viruses

Hypernyms ("RNA" is a kind of...):

polymer (a naturally occurring or synthetic compound consisting of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple monomers)

Meronyms (parts of "RNA"):

nucleic acid ((biochemistry) any of various macromolecules composed of nucleotide chains that are vital constituents of all living cells)

Meronyms (substance of "RNA"):

ribose (a pentose sugar important as a component of ribonucleic acid)

A; adenine ((biochemistry) purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA)

C; cytosine (a base found in DNA and RNA and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with guanine)

G; guanine (a purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with cytosine)

U; uracil (a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine)

Domain category:

biochemistry (the organic chemistry of compounds and processes occurring in organisms; the effort to understand biology within the context of chemistry)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "RNA"):

informational RNA; messenger RNA; mRNA; template RNA (the template for protein synthesis; the form of RNA that carries information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome sites of protein synthesis in the cell)

nRNA; nuclear RNA (ribonucleic acid found in the nucleolus of the cell)

acceptor RNA; soluble RNA; transfer RNA; tRNA (RNA molecules present in the cell (in at least 20 varieties, each variety capable of combining with a specific amino acid) that attach the correct amino acid to the protein chain that is being synthesized at the ribosome of the cell (according to directions coded in the mRNA))

 Context examples 

Activated RNA polymerase II transcriptional coactivator p15 (127aa, ~14 kDa) is encoded by the human SUB1 gene.

(Activated RNA Polymerase II Transcriptional Coactivator p15, NCI Thesaurus)

Pyronin, a red dye, is fairly specific for RNA with some binding to protein.

(Methyl Green Pyronine Staining Method, NCI Thesaurus)

In a microarray, biologic molecules such as DNA, RNA, or protein are placed in a pattern onto a surface such as a glass slide.

(Microarray, NCI Dictionary)

This agent also alkylates RNA and protein structures.

(Melphalan Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein is involved in the demethylation of RNA and DNA.

(Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO, NCI Thesaurus)

Using a technique called RNA interference, the researchers then prevented orexin genes from turning on.

(The Mechanism of Panic Attacks, NIH, US)

Adenosine triphosphate is involved in energy production for metabolic processes and RNA synthesis.

(Adenosine triphosphate, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of RNA found in cells and in blood.

(microRNA, NCI Dictionary)

A type of RNA found in cells.

(messenger RNA, NCI Dictionary)

These transmissible RNA molecules are produced by the honey bee’s genes and by disease agents such as viruses.

(Discovery of RNA transfer through royal jelly could aid development of honey bee vaccines, University of Cambridge)