RNA is involved in a wide-range of important molecular processes in the cell, serving diverse functions: regulatory, enzymatic, and structural. Together with its ease and predictability of design, these properties can lead RNA to become a useful handle for biological engineers with which to control the cellular machinery. By modifying the many RNA links in cellular processes, it is possible to reprogram cells toward specific design goals. We propose that RNA can be viewed as a molecular programming language that, together with protein-based execution platforms, can be used to rewrite wide ranging aspects of cellular function. In this review, we catalogue developments in the use of RNA parts, methods, and associated computational models that have contributed to the programmability of biology. We discuss how RNA part repertoires have been combined to build complex genetic circuits, and review recent applications of RNA-based parts and circuitry. We explore the future potential of RNA engineering and posit that RNA programmability is an important resource for firmly establishing an era of rationally designed synthetic biology.

Organisms have different circuitries that allow converting signal molecule levels to changes in gene expression. An important challenge in synthetic biology involves the de novo design of RNA modules enabling dynamic signal processing in live cells. This requires a scalable methodology for sensing, transmission, and actuation, which could be assembled into larger signaling networks. Here, we present a biochemical strategy to design RNA-mediated signal transduction cascades able to sense small molecules and small RNAs. We design switchable functional RNA domains by using strand-displacement techniques. We experimentally characterize the molecular mechanism underlying our synthetic RNA signaling cascades, show the ability to regulate gene expression with transduced RNA signals, and describe the signal processing response of our systems to periodic forcing in single live cells. The engineered systems integrate RNA–RNA interaction with available ribozyme and aptamer elements, providing new ways to engineer arbitrary complex gene circuits.

Aquaculture Nutrition. 2020;26:921-935. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/anu | 921

With the aim of investigating the influence of fragment nuclear structure e.g. shell closure configuration and odd-even nature on the scission configuration, fragment angular momenta have been deduced from the radiochemically determined independent isomeric yield ratios of the fission products ltlPd, 131Te, 133Te, 134I and 13SCs in 252Cf spontaneous fission. The fragments' angular momenta deduced are 8.8_+1.5, 5.8 _+ 1.0, 6.1 _+ 1.1, 11.5 _+ 1.1 and 9.8 __ 1.2h respectively. The angular momenta data from this work and literature have been analysed to arrive at fragments' deformations at the scission bringing out the influence of the spherical 82n and deformed 66n and 88n shells. The fragment angular momenta were also seen to be inversely correlated to their elemental yields exhibiting odd-even fluctuations. This has been explained in terms of equilibration of the collective degrees of freedom in low energy fission.

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A 60‐day feeding trial was conducted to illustrate the effect of dietary protein levels on the growth and physio‐metabolic responses of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei reared in inland saline water (ISW). Six isoenergetic (15 MJ/kg) and isolipidic (60 g/kg) diets with graded level of crude protein viz., 240 (T240), 260 (T260), 280 (T280), 300 (T300), 320 (T320) and 340 (T340) g/kg diet were formulated. Significantly higher (p < .05) weight gain (%), specific growth rate, with lower food conversion ratio were found in T320 and T340 groups. The protein utilizing efficiency and whole‐body protein content were significantly higher (p < .05) in the T320 group. Trypsin activity increased with the increasing dietary CP level but amylase activity decreased with the increasing dietary CP level. Transaminase enzymes, haemolymph protein and haemocyanin were elevated in T320 and T340 groups. The lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher (p < .05) in the T240 group. Shrimp of T240 group had the lowest (p < .05) glycogen and total haemocyte count with highest (p < .05) haemolymph glucose and antioxidant enzymes activities than the other groups. Based on the results, feeding 320 g CP/kg is found to be optimum for supporting maximum growth and health status of L. vannamei reared in ISW at 8 g/L salinity. The finding of the present study will help in developing a low‐cost feed for L. vannamei reared in ISW.

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In the present work the influence of initial excitation energy and angular momentum of the fissioning system on the angular momenta of fission fragments corresponding to ' 'Te and ' Te was studied in the Th(a3OM, v, f) system. The fragment angular momenta were estimated from the radiochemically determined independent isomeric yield ratios using a statistical model. The obtained data are discussed along with the literature data on the fragment angular momenta in the same fissioning nucleus 23 U formed in the U(n, h, f) and " Th(a, f}systems.NUCLEAR REACTIONS~~Th(a3O M v f) reaction, fragment angular momentum, independent isomeric yield ratio, initial excitation energy, angular momentum, single particle effect.