Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 24, 2025
11:58
Using In Vitro and In-cell SHAPE to Investigate Small Molecule Induced Pre-mRNA Structural Changes
Published on: January 30, 2019
8.4K
Small-molecule modulators of protein-RNA interactions.
Wan Gi Byun1, Donghyun Lim2, Seung Bum Park1
1CRI Center for Chemical Proteomics, Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Korea(South).
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology
|May 9, 2022
Summary
Discovering small-molecule drugs that modulate protein-RNA interactions (PRIs) offers new therapeutic avenues for human disorders. This review covers assays, modulators, and challenges in targeting these crucial cellular pathways.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Protein-RNA interactions (PRIs) are vital in cellular processes like transcription and phase separation.
- Dysregulation of PRIs is linked to various human diseases.
- Targeting PRIs expands the scope of druggable targets beyond current protein-coding genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the therapeutic potential of targeting PRIs with small molecules.
- To discuss experimental tools for observing PRIs.
- To highlight emerging technologies and challenges in developing PRI modulators.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of therapeutic strategies for PRIs.
- Discussion of biochemical and cell-based assays for PRI observation.
- Analysis of existing PRI modulators and their mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Small molecules show promise for modulating PRIs, offering novel therapeutic strategies.
- Various experimental tools exist for studying PRIs in vitro and in cells.
- Several PRI modulators have been identified, with ongoing research into new ones.
Conclusions:
- Targeting PRIs represents a significant opportunity for developing new therapeutics.
- Advancements in assay development and modulator discovery are crucial.
- Overcoming challenges in this field will unlock innovative treatments for diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Types of RNA
68.0K
Overview
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...
68.0K
01:29Translational Regulation
125
Translational regulation in prokaryotes ensures efficient protein synthesis by controlling ribosome access to mRNA. This regulation is mediated by secondary RNA structures, including translational riboswitches, RNA thermometers, and small RNAs (sRNAs), which respond to intracellular and environmental signals to modulate gene expression.Translational RiboswitchesRiboswitches in the leader region of mRNAs can regulate translation by altering the accessibility of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence,...
125
01:56Riboswitches
8.7K
Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
8.7K
01:23RNA Interference
26.5K
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
26.5K
02:30siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
17.0K
Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
17.0K
02:36RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
9.6K
Proteins that regulate transcription can do so either via direct contact with RNA Polymerase or through indirect interactions facilitated by adaptors, mediators, histone-modifying proteins, and nucleosome remodelers. Direct interactions to activate transcription is seen in bacteria as well as in some eukaryotic genes. In these cases, upstream activation sequences are adjacent to the promoters, and the activator proteins interact directly with the transcriptional machinery. For example, in...
9.6K