Extracellular nucleic acids

Abstract

Extracellular nucleic acids are found in different biological fluids in the organism and in the environment: DNA is a ubiquitous component of the organic matter pool in the soil and in all marine and freshwater habitats. Data from recent studies strongly suggest that extracellular DNA and RNA play important biological roles in microbial communities and in higher organisms. DNA is an important component of bacterial biofilms and is involved in horizontal gene transfer. In recent years, the circulating extracellular nucleic acids were shown to be associated with some diseases. Attempts are being made to develop noninvasive methods of early tumor diagnostics based on analysis of circulating DNA and RNA. Recent observations demonstrated the possibility of nucleic acids exchange between eukaryotic cells and extracellular space suggesting their participation in so far unidentified biological processes.

Involvement of the response regulator CtrA in the extracellular DNA production of the marine bacterium <i>Rhodovulum sulfidophilum</i>

“…Extracellular DNA is detected ubiquitously throughout the environment, such as in seawater and soil (Lorenz and Wackernagel, 1994;Tani and Nasu, 2010;Vlassov et al, 2007). Environmental DNAs, especially high molecular weight DNAs of bacterial origin, are, at least in part, derived from the active production by a similar stimulation mechanism as shown in the present paper.…”

Presence and Characterization of Cell-Free Seminal RNA in Healthy Individuals: Implications for Noninvasive Disease Diagnosis and Gene Expression Studies of the Male Reproductive System

“…The RNA-associated macromolecules present in some body fluids or culture media may be lipoprotein vesicles that are either actively secreted or released during apoptosis (33 ). In semen, cfRNA sequestered within microvesicles derived from apoptotic spermatogenic cells may be the primary macromoleculeassociated form present.…”

Preparation, characterization, and in ovo vaccination of dextran-spermine nanoparticle DNA vaccine coexpressing the fusion and hemagglutinin genes against Newcastle disease

“…Hence, the amount of foreign DNA that crosses the cytoplasm varies and depends on the DNase I activity. 24 Therefore, to deliver DNA molecules into cells, a studies have used D-SPM, which is a polycationic polysaccharide. 25,26 D-SPM can bind to DNA through a combination of electrostatic attraction and intercalation.…”