Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Detection of RNA-binding Proteins by In Vitro RNA Pull-down in Adipocyte Culture
Published on: July 22, 2016
RNA-Binding Proteins in Adipose Biology: From Mechanistic Understanding to Therapeutic Opportunities
Ghida Dairi1,2, Maria Al Ibrahim2, Saeed Al Mahri2
1Research, Development and Innovation Unit, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21961, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
Obesity, defined by excessive body fat accumulation, is strongly associated with dysfunction of adipose tissue, a major regulator of whole-body energy balance and metabolic health. Dysfunctional adipose tissue is characterized by altered adipokine secretion, impaired insulin sensitivity, and chronic low-grade inflammation, all of which contribute to obesity-related comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Understanding how obesity disrupts adipose tissue biology is essential for developing strategies to mitigate these metabolic risks. In recent years, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have emerged as important regulators of energy metabolism. By controlling post-transcriptional gene expression, RBPs influence RNA stability, localization, and translation, thereby shaping key cellular processes. Dysregulation of specific RBPs has been implicated in obesity and metabolic disorders, with several shown to affect adipogenesis, lipid handling, thermogenesis, and insulin sensitivity across different adipose depots. Their ability to direct the fate of transcripts involved in metabolic homeostasis positions RBPs as critical nodes linking adipose dysfunction to systemic disease. This review provides a mechanistic overview of RBP functions in adipose biology, highlights how their dysregulation can reinforce metabolic dysfunction, and identifies gaps and future directions for exploring RBPs and their RNA networks as potential therapeutic targets for obesity and related metabolic diseases.
Related Concept Videos
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
Conserved Binding Sites
Binding sites are often located in large pockets, and if their location on a protein’s surface is unknown, it can be predicted using various approaches. The energetic method computationally...
Factors Affecting Protein-Drug Binding: Protein-Related Factors
The physicochemical properties of a drug play a significant role in its ability to bind to proteins. Lipophilic drugs, which dissolve in fats, oils, and lipids, can be...
RNA Interference
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...
Ligand Binding and Linkage
RNA Stability

