Editorial overview: exploring the vast dynamic range of RNA dynamics

Abstract

This issue presents the field of RNA research from the perspective of dynamics. Over the past 20 years or so, our appreciation of the functions of RNA has grown dramatically. RNA has been shown to catalyze chemical reactions and to regulate gene expression, both by binding to small molecule and undergoing conformational changes as riboswitches, and by binding to specific messages as miRNAs. During this period of explosion in RNA biology, much has been learned about RNA physical chemistry and structural biology. For instance, the thermodynamics of RNA folding are better understood, allowing secondary structures to be predicted with increasing success, and the kinetics and folding pathways of complex RNA molecules are being elucidated. At the same time, many structures of functional RNAs have been reported, including multiple ribosome structures and ribozyme and riboswitch structures. These advances have been nothing short of astonishing. Yet at the same time that new RNA biology has been discovered and analyzed in terms of structure and chemistry, new questions have been framed. Central among these is the nature of the dynamics that allow RNA to switch between conformations, as is demanded by these systems. The issue of RNA dynamics comprises the theme of this special issue. We are very fortunate to present here 10 articles from leaders in this field. Topics range from the ultrafast dynamics of simpler model systems to the dynamics of systems of intermediate complexity including ribozymes, to motions in systems of extreme complexity including the ribosome and other RNA-protein (RNP) complexes.