RNA-protein interactions in an unstructured context.

Bojan Zagrovic,Anton A Polyansky,Lukas Bartonek

doi:10.1002/1873-3468.13116

Abstract

Despite their importance, our understanding of noncovalent RNA–protein interactions is incomplete. This especially concerns the binding between RNA and unstructured protein regions, a widespread class of such interactions. Here, we review the recent experimental and computational work on RNA–protein interactions in an unstructured context with a particular focus on how such interactions may be shaped by the intrinsic interaction affinities between individual nucleobases and protein side chains. Specifically, we articulate the claim that the universal genetic code reflects the binding specificity between nucleobases and protein side chains and that, in turn, the code may be seen as the Rosetta stone for understanding RNA–protein interactions in general.

Highlights

Despite their importance, our understanding of noncovalent RNA–protein interactions is incomplete
We review the recent experimental and computational work on RNA– protein interactions in an unstructured context with a particular focus on how such interactions may be shaped by the intrinsic interaction affinities between individual nucleobases and protein side chains
We articulate the claim that the universal genetic code reflects the binding specificity between nucleobases and protein side chains and that, in turn, the code may be seen as the Rosetta stone for understanding RNA–protein interactions in general

Summary

Edited by Wilhelm Just

Our understanding of noncovalent RNA–protein interactions is incomplete This especially concerns the binding between RNA and unstructured protein regions, a widespread class of such interactions. 40% of the 570 identified yeast mRNA-binding proteins lack well-defined RBDs, are not associated with any presently known functions in RNA biology and even include different metabolic enzymes and transcription factors [10]. Many such ‘enigmRBPs’ contain repetitive, low-complexity sequence regions and are intrinsically unstructured i.e., disordered [2,5,6,8,9,10,11,12].1. The present review focuses on the recent work on RNA–protein interactions in an unstructured context with a particular focus on how the specificity in such interactions may be determined

Cellular context of RNA interactions with unstructured RBPs

Findings

Significance and outlook