Rfam: The community resource for RNA families

DNA编码的遗传信息从父母传递给他们的后代。当需要时，DNA首先被转录成RNA，然后被翻译成蛋白质，在细胞内做有用的工作。但是许多rna不仅仅是作为基因和蛋白质之间的信使。这些非编码rna （ncrna，因为它们不“编码”蛋白质）可以在所有生物中找到，其中许多生物对生存至关重要。有许多类型的ncRNA，例如，ncRNA位于核糖体的核心，核糖体是合成我们体内所有蛋白质的分子机器。重要的是，当科学家遇到RNA序列时，他们需要一个可靠的工具来识别这种RNA及其功能。此外，每当对新基因组进行测序时，都需要找到组成RNA的部分。Rfam数据库由此创建，这是一个在线资源，将相关的ncrna分组成家族，每个家族都由一个统计模型表示，允许检测同一家族的其他成员。自2002年成立以来，Rfam已经从大约100个家庭扩展到今天的近3000个家庭，反映了ncRNA领域的发展。Rfam已经在世界范围内被用于跨越许多生物学学科的数千项研究中，例如，Rfam被用于在水稻和甜菜等重要作物的基因组首次测序时发现ncrna。然而，重要的是要使Rfam保持最新，因为新的rna不断被发现，并且收集了关于已知ncrna的额外信息。我们将与RNA界合作实现以下目标：(1)我们将专注于更新一些最重要的RNA家族，这些家族至少有一个3D结构已经被发现。三维结构可以向我们展示长RNA序列的哪些部分在三维空间中彼此靠近。有了这些知识，我们可以预测序列如何变化，但形成相同的3D形状。虽然Rfam有一些这样的信息，但它并不像3D结构那样准确。通过将3D数据整合到Rfam中，科学家将能够编写新的计算机程序，从序列中预测RNA的3D结构。(2)我们将创建一个完整的ncRNA类型的集合，称为microrna，这是控制体内不同蛋白质数量的短RNA序列。由于microrna的问题与癌症有关，因此能够在基因组中发现这些问题并确定哪些是相关的是很重要的。我们将与曼彻斯特大学miRBase的开发人员合作，同步两个数据库中包含的microRNA家族。虽然miRBase是完整的，但它没有维护家族的工具，而Rfam的情况正好相反。通过共同努力，我们将创建一个单一的、完整的microRNA家族集合，从而促进使用Rfam在新基因组中发现microRNA。(3)我们将以病毒中的rna为基础创建更多的家族。许多病毒利用RNA结构来感染、繁殖或避免宿主的免疫反应。Rfam有少数病毒家族，大多可以追溯到十年前。我们将与欧洲病毒生物信息学中心的病毒学家合作，他们已经汇编了一套保守的病毒RNA结构。然后，科学家将能够使用Rfam检测病毒序列并研究它们的RNA结构。我们也会定期更新Rfam网站，回应用户查询，参加会议与同事会面并分享资源发展。总的来说，这项工作将进一步增强这一强大资源的功能和实用性，并巩固Rfam在全球RNA研究领域的中心地位。

DNA encodes the genetic information that is transferred from parents to their offspring. When required, DNA is first transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into proteins that do useful work inside the cells. But many RNAs do much more than merely act as messengers between genes and proteins. These non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs; because they do not "code" for proteins) can be found in all living things, many of which are essential for survival. There are many types of ncRNAs, for example ncRNA is at the heart of a ribosome, the molecular machine that synthesises all proteins in our bodies.Importantly, when scientists encounter an RNA sequence, they need a reliable tool to identify this RNA and its function. Moreover, it is necessary to find the constituent RNA parts whenever a new genome is sequenced. The Rfam database was thus created, which is an online resource that groups together related ncRNAs into families, each represented by a statistical model that allows the detection of other members of the same family. Since its inception in 2002, Rfam has expanded from ~100 families to nearly 3,000 families today, reflecting the growth of the ncRNA field. Rfam has been used world over in thousands of studies spanning many biology disciplines, e.g. Rfam was used to find ncRNAs in important crops like rice and sugar beet when their genomes were first sequenced. However, it is important to keep Rfam up-to-date because new RNAs are being constantly discovered and additional information is gleaned about already known ncRNAs. We will collaborate with the RNA community to accomplish the following objectives:(1) We will focus on updating some of the most important RNA families for which at least one 3D structure has been found. The 3D structure can show us which parts of a long RNA sequence are close to each other in 3D space. With this knowledge, we can predict how the sequence may change, yet forming the same 3D shape. While Rfam has some of this information, it is not as accurate as what is known from 3D structures. By integrating 3D data into Rfam, scientists will be able to write new computer programs that can predict RNA 3D structure from sequence. (2) We will create a complete collection of ncRNA type called microRNAs, which are short RNA sequences that control the amounts of different proteins in the body. Since problems with microRNAs are linked to cancer, it is important to be able to discover these in genomes and identify which ones are related. We will collaborate with the miRBase developers at the University of Manchester to synchonise microRNA families contained within the two databases. Although miRBase is complete, it does not have the tools to maintain the families while the opposite holds true for Rfam. By working together, we will create a single, complete collection of microRNA families so as to facilitate the discovery of microRNAs in new genomes using Rfam.(3) We will create more families based on RNAs found in viruses. Many viruses use RNA structures to infect, reproduce, or avoid the host immune response. Rfam has a small number of viral families, mostly dating from a decade ago. We will update them by working with the virologists from the European Viral Bioinformatics Center who have compiled a set of conserved viral RNA structures. Scientists will then be able to use Rfam to detect viruses in sequences and study their RNA structures.We will also regularly update the Rfam website, respond to user queries, and attend conferences to meet colleagues and share resource developments. Collectively, this work will further enhance the functionality and utility of a powerful resource and cement Rfam's central status in the field of RNA research worldwide.