The Plethora of RNA-Protein Interactions Model a Basis for RNA Therapies

The notion of RNA-based therapeutics has gained wide attractions in both academic and commercial institutions. RNA is a polymer of nucleic acids that has been proven to be impressively versatile, dating to its hypothesized RNA World origins, evidenced by its enzymatic roles in facilitating DNA replication, mRNA decay, and protein synthesis. This is underscored through the activities of riboswitches, spliceosomes, ribosomes, and telomerases. Given its broad range of interactions within the cell, RNA can be targeted by a therapeutic or modified as a pharmacologic scaffold for diseases such as nucleotide repeat disorders, infectious diseases, and cancer. RNA therapeutic techniques that have been researched include, but are not limited to, CRISPR/Cas gene editing, anti-sense oligonucleotides (ASOs), siRNA, small molecule treatments, and RNA aptamers. The knowledge gleaned from studying RNA-centric mechanisms will inevitably improve the design of RNA-based therapeutics. Building on this understanding, we explore the physiological diversity of RNA functions, examine specific dysfunctions, such as splicing errors and viral interactions, and discuss their therapeutic implications.