RNA regulons and the RNA-protein interaction network

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Systems Biology

Background:

• Genome-wide analysis tools reveal coordinated gene expression.
• RNA regulons, analogous to bacterial DNA regulons, describe coordinated control of RNA molecules.
• RNA-binding proteins and small non-coding RNAs regulate posttranscriptional events.

Purpose of the Study:

• Review recent findings on RNA-protein interaction networks.
• Outline principles and features of RNA regulons.
• Summarize evidence for combinatorial mRNA control and RNA regulons as noise buffers.

Main Methods:

• Systematic exploration of RNA-protein interaction networks.
• Integration of global protein-RNA interaction data.
• Literature review of recent reports.

Main Results:

• RNA regulons coordinate functionally related mRNAs via proteins or non-coding RNAs.
• RNA regulon components exhibit modular structures.
• RNA-protein interactions dynamically rewire in response to stimuli.
• Evidence suggests combinatorial control determines mRNA fate.
• RNA regulons may buffer stochasticity in cellular transcription.

Conclusions:

• RNA regulons represent a unifying theory for eukaryotic RNA-protein interactions.
• Understanding RNA regulons provides insights into gene expression regulation.
• RNA regulons play a role in managing cellular noise and ensuring regulatory robustness.