RNAs are commonly categorized as being either protein-coding mRNAs or noncoding RNAs. However, an increasing number of transcripts, in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans, are being found to have both coding and noncoding functions. In some cases, the sequences encoding the protein and the regulatory RNA functions are separated, while in other cases the sequences overlap. The protein and RNA can regulate similar or distinct pathways. Here we describe examples illustrating how these dual-function (also denoted bifunctional or dual-component) RNAs are identified and their mechanisms of action and cellular roles. We also discuss the synergy or competition between coding and RNA activity and how these regulators evolved, as well as how more dual-function RNAs might be discovered and exploited.

RNA 通常分为蛋白质编码 mRNA 或非编码 RNA。然而，在从细菌到人类的生物体中，越来越多的转录本被发现具有编码和非编码功能。在某些情况下，编码蛋白质的序列和调节RNA功能是分开的，而在其他情况下，序列重叠。蛋白质和RNA可以调节相似或不同的途径。在这里，我们描述了一些例子，说明如何识别这些双功能（也称为双功能或双组分）RNA 及其作用机制和细胞作用。我们还讨论了编码和 RNA 活性之间的协同或竞争，以及这些调节因子如何进化，以及如何发现和利用更多的双功能 RNA。