The expanding universe of ribonucleoproteins: of novel RNA-binding proteins and unconventional interactions

Beckmann, B. M., Castello, A. and Medenbach, J. (2016) The expanding universe of ribonucleoproteins: of novel RNA-binding proteins and unconventional interactions. Pflügers Archiv European Journal of Physiology, 468(6), pp. 1029-1040. (doi: 10.1007/s00424-016-1819-4) (PMID:27165283) (PMCID:PMC4893068)

[img]
Preview
Text
219022.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

1MB

Abstract

Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression plays a critical role in almost all cellular processes. Regulation occurs mostly by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that recognise RNA elements and form ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) to control RNA metabolism from synthesis to decay. Recently, the repertoire of RBPs was significantly expanded owing to methodological advances such as RNA interactome capture. The newly identified RNA binders are involved in diverse biological processes and belong to a broad spectrum of protein families, many of them exhibiting enzymatic activities. This suggests the existence of an extensive crosstalk between RNA biology and other, in principle unrelated, cell functions such as intermediary metabolism. Unexpectedly, hundreds of new RBPs do not contain identifiable RNA-binding domains (RBDs), raising the question of how they interact with RNA. Despite the many functions that have been attributed to RNA, our understanding of RNPs is still mostly governed by a rather protein-centric view, leading to the idea that proteins have evolved to bind to and regulate RNA and not vice versa. However, RNPs formed by an RNA-driven interaction mechanism (RNA-determined RNPs) are abundant and offer an alternative explanation for the surprising lack of classical RBDs in many RNA-interacting proteins. Moreover, RNAs can act as scaffolds to orchestrate and organise protein networks and directly control their activity, suggesting that nucleic acids might play an important regulatory role in many cellular processes, including metabolism.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Castello, Professor Alfredo
Authors: Beckmann, B. M., Castello, A., and Medenbach, J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
Journal Name:Pflügers Archiv European Journal of Physiology
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:0031-6768
ISSN (Online):1432-2013
Published Online:10 May 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Pflügers Archiv European Journal of Physiology 468(6): 1029-1040
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record