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Tyrosine—tRNA ligase
Tyrosine—tRNA ligase (tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, TyrRS, YARS1) is the class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase that charges tRNA-Tyr with tyrosine; a functional dimer with class II-like tRNA binding, linked to dominant peripheral neuropathy.
U1 spliceosomal RNA
U1 spliceosomal RNA (U1 snRNA) is the small nuclear RNA of the U1 snRNP that base-pairs the 5′ splice site (consensus CAG|GUAAGU) to initiate spliceosome assembly, and via U1 telescripting suppresses premature intronic polyadenylation.
U2 spliceosomal RNA
U2 spliceosomal RNA (U2 snRNA) is the small nuclear RNA of the U2 snRNP that base pairs the pre-mRNA branch site, bulges the branch point adenosine, and with U6 forms the spliceosome's catalytic core; human U2 carries a conserved GTAG motif and its mutations drive cancer.
U4 spliceosomal RNA
U4 spliceosomal RNA (U4 snRNA; genes RNU4-1, RNU4-2) is a 142-nt human small nuclear RNA that pairs with U6 to keep the spliceosome inactive until Brr2 unwinds the duplex; RNU4-2 variants cause neurodevelopmental disease.
U6 spliceosomal RNA
U6 spliceosomal RNA (U6 snRNA) is one of five small nuclear RNAs forming the spliceosome, which removes introns from pre-mRNA; it forms much of the spliceosome's catalytic core.
U7 small nuclear RNA
U7 snRNA (RNU7-1) is a 57-70 nt non-coding RNA forming the U7 snRNP with Lsm10/Lsm11 Sm proteins; it guides CPSF73 cleavage of replication-dependent histone pre-mRNA 3' ends and, engineered as U7 SmOPT, serves DMD exon-skipping and ADAR RNA-editing therapies.
UCA1
UCA1 (urothelial cancer associated 1, CUDR, LINC00178) is a human long non-coding RNA gene on chromosome 19p13.12, discovered in 2006 in bladder cancer, oncogenic via miRNA sponging, and studied as a diagnostic and prognostic cancer biomarker.
Untranslated region
Untranslated regions (5' and 3' UTRs) are noncoding mRNA segments flanking the coding sequence that regulate translation, mRNA stability, localization, and alternative polyadenylation, and are key design elements in mRNA vaccines and gene therapy.
Upstream Stimulatory Factor
Upstream stimulatory factor (USF-1/USF-2) is a ubiquitous bHLH-LZ transcription factor family binding E-box (CANNTG) motifs, regulating stress, immune, metabolic, and pigmentation gene networks; USF1 links to familial combined hyperlipidemia.
Vasa gene
Vasa gene (DDX4 in mammals): DEAD-box RNA helicase, first found in Drosophila, specifically expressed in germ cells; used as a germline marker in fertility diagnostics, germ cell tumors, and ovarian stem cell research.
Viral hijacking of translation initiation factors
Viral hijacking of translation initiation factors is how viruses cleave or sequester host factors like eIF4G to shut off cellular translation while translating their own mRNAs.
Weighted gene coexpression network analysis
Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) is a systems biology method that builds weighted networks of correlated genes and relates the modules to traits like disease.
Whirly transcription factor
Whirly (WHY) transcription factors, including WHY1, WHY2, and WHY3, are plant-specific ssDNA/RNA-binding proteins with a whirligig fold and KGKAAL domain, acting in nuclear defense-gene regulation, organelle genome repair, and stress tolerance.
Wobble base pair
Wobble base pair: non-Watson-Crick pairing between tRNA anticodon position 34 and the third mRNA codon base, proposed by Crick in 1966; inosine and U34 modifications let one tRNA read multiple codons.
WRKY protein domain
The WRKY protein domain, also called the WRKY domain, is a mainly plant-specific DNA-binding domain of about 60 amino acids that binds W-box elements in gene promoters.
WRKY transcription factor
WRKY transcription factors: large plant TF family defined by the WRKYGQK motif and zinc-finger WRKY domain, binding W-box (TTGACC/T) elements; first found in sweet potato 1994, regulating stress, immunity, and development.
WTAP
Pre-mRNA-splicing regulator WTAP (Wilms' tumor 1-associating protein, Q15007, KIAA0105) is a nuclear mammalian protein that regulates pre-mRNA splicing and serves as the regulatory subunit of the METTL3-METTL14 m6A methyltransferase complex, implicated in prostate cancer enzalutamide resistance.
Wybutosine
Wybutosine (yW) is a hypermodified fluorescent guanosine derivative at position 37 of eukaryotic and archaeal phenylalanine tRNA, made by Trm5 and TYW1-TYW4 from SAM and pyruvate, stabilizing the reading frame; TYW2 loss causes frameshifting in colorectal cancer.
X-inactivation
X-inactivation (lyonization) is the random silencing of one X chromosome in female mammals, triggered by Xist RNA from the Xic, ensuring dosage compensation; discovered by Mary Lyon in 1961.
XIST
XIST (X-inactive specific transcript) is a human long non-coding RNA gene found on the X chromosome. It was discovered in 1991 and is essential for initiating X-chromosome inactivation.
Yeast one-hybrid assay
The yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assay is a genetic screen in yeast that identifies transcription factors and other DNA-binding proteins that bind a chosen DNA sequence.
YTH domain
The YTH domain, or YT521-B homology domain, is a conserved RNA-binding domain of about 100 to 150 amino acids that recognizes m6A, the most abundant internal modification in eukaryotic messenger RNA.
YTHDC1
YTHDC1 (YT521-B), human gene at 4q13.2, is the only exclusively nuclear YTH-domain m6A RNA reader; it regulates splicing, mRNA export, chromatin, fertility, and is a cancer drug target.
YTHDF2
YTHDF2 (YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein F2) is the first identified mammalian m6A reader protein, a cytoplasmic RNA-binding protein that promotes m6A-dependent mRNA decay via CCR4-NOT and RNase P/MRP, also binds m5C, and regulates immunity, cancer, inflammation, and viral infection.
Z-variants and unusual snoRNAs
Z-variants and unusual snoRNAs are small nucleolar RNAs that do not fit the standard C/D and H/ACA classification, including intron-lariat snoRNAs and orphan snoRNAs with unassigned functions.
Zinc finger
Zinc finger: small protein domain folded around a zinc ion, discovered 1985 in Xenopus TFIIIA. The C2H2 form is the most common human DNA-binding motif, reads DNA triplets via a recognition code, and is widely engineered.
Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox
Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox (ZEB) family: two transcription factors, ZEB1 (deltaEF1, TCF8) and ZEB2 (SIP1), with paired zinc finger clusters binding E-box motifs and a non-DNA-binding homeodomain; repressors driving EMT, neural crest development, and Mowat-Wilson syndrome.
Zygotic genome activation (ZGA)
Zygotic genome activation (ZGA), also embryonic genome activation, is the first embryonic transcription after fertilization, in two waves (minor and major), timed by N/C ratio, maternal clock, or chromatin models; human major ZGA peaks at the 4-8 cell stage.