scholarly journals Role and Perspective of Molecular Simulation-Based Investigation of RNA–Ligand Interaction: From Small Molecules and Peptides to Photoswitchable RNA Binding

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3384
Author(s):  
Daria V. Berdnikova ◽  
Paolo Carloni ◽  
Sybille Krauß ◽  
Giulia Rossetti

Aberrant RNA–protein complexes are formed in a variety of diseases. Identifying the ligands that interfere with their formation is a valuable therapeutic strategy. Molecular simulation, validated against experimental data, has recently emerged as a powerful tool to predict both the pose and energetics of such ligands. Thus, the use of molecular simulation may provide insight into aberrant molecular interactions in diseases and, from a drug design perspective, may allow for the employment of less wet lab resources than traditional in vitro compound screening approaches. With regard to basic research questions, molecular simulation can support the understanding of the exact molecular interaction and binding mode. Here, we focus on examples targeting RNA–protein complexes in neurodegenerative diseases and viral infections. These examples illustrate that the strategy is rather general and could be applied to different pharmacologically relevant approaches. We close this study by outlining one of these approaches, namely the light-controllable association of small molecules with RNA, as an emerging approach in RNA-targeting therapy.

1985 ◽  
Vol 260 (21) ◽  
pp. 11781-11786
Author(s):  
R Kole ◽  
L D Fresco ◽  
J D Keene ◽  
P L Cohen ◽  
R A Eisenberg ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Stockley ◽  
A. E. Ashcroft ◽  
S. Francese ◽  
G. S. Thompson ◽  
N. A. Ranson ◽  
...  

The RNA bacteriophages represent ideal model systems in which to probe the detailed assembly pathway for the formation of aT = 3 quasi-equivalent capsid. For MS2, the assembly reaction can be probedin vitrousing acid disassembled coat protein subunits and a short (19 nt) RNA stem-loop that acts as the translational operator of the replicase gene and leads to sequence-specific sequestration and packaging of the cognate phage RNAin vivo. Reassembly reactions can be initiated by mixing these components at neutral pH. The molecular basis of the sequence-specific RNA–protein interaction is now well understood. Recent NMR studies on the protein demonstrate extensive mobility in the loops of the polypeptide that alter their conformations to form the quasi-equivalent conformers of the final capsid. It seems reasonable to assume that RNA binding results in reduction of this flexibility. However, mass spectrometry suggests that these RNA–protein complexes may only provide one type of quasi-equivalent capsid building block competent to form five-fold axes but not the full shell. Work with longer RNAs suggests that the RNA may actively template the assembly pathway providing a partial explanation of how conformers are selected in the growing shell.


Methods ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 118-119 ◽  
pp. 171-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzu-Fang Lou ◽  
Chase A. Weidmann ◽  
Jordan Killingsworth ◽  
Traci M. Tanaka Hall ◽  
Aaron C. Goldstrohm ◽  
...  

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 6547-6557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y K Kwon ◽  
N B Hecht

The synthesis of the protamines, the predominant nuclear proteins of mammalian spermatozoa, is regulated during germ cell development by mRNA storage for about 7 days in the cytoplasm of differentiating spermatids. Two highly conserved sequences, the Y and H elements present in the 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of all known mammalian protamine mRNAs, form RNA-protein complexes and specifically bind a protein of 18 kDa. Here, we show that translation of fusion mRNAs was markedly repressed in reticulocyte lysates supplemented with a mouse testis extract enriched for the 18-kDa protein when the mRNAs contained the 3' UTR of mouse protamine 2 (mP2) or the Y and H elements of mP2. No significant decrease was seen when the fusion mRNAs contained the 3' UTR of human growth hormone. The 18-kDa protein is developmentally regulated in male germ cells, requires phosphorylation for RNA binding, and is found in the ribonucleoprotein particle fractions of a testicular postmitochondrial supernatant. We propose that a phosphorylated 18-kDa protein plays a primary role in repressing translation of mP2 mRNA by interaction with the highly conserved Y and H elements. At a later stage of male gamete differentiation, the 18-kDa protein no longer binds to the mRNA, likely as a result of dephosphorylation, enabling the protamine mRNA to be translated.


2014 ◽  
Vol 644-650 ◽  
pp. 5291-5294
Author(s):  
Tong Wang ◽  
Jian Xin Xue ◽  
Tian Xia

Hydrogen bond and van der Waals interactions between protein and RNA are important. We have developed a set of algorithms for predicting RNA-Protein binding strength by analyzing hydrogen bond and van der Waals interactions between protein and RNA. Firstly, we must identify the RNA-Protein binding sites. In this study, we use features including Pseudo Position-Specific Score Matrix (PsePSSM) computed by PSI-BLAST and Dipeptide Composition (DC) as feature vectors. Then, the classifier is employed to identify the residues that interact with RNA in RNA-binding protein. Then, take into account the number of amino acids hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces to any nucleotide, the binding strength is calculated. Finally, fuzzy sets method is adopted to predict the binding strength is strong or weak. Our experiments show that the above methods are used effectively to deal with this complicated problem of predicting RNA-protein binding strength.


1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross N. Nazar ◽  
Makoto Yaguchi ◽  
Gordon E. Willick

The ribosomal 5S RNA – protein complex appears to be an excellent model for studies on the evolution and structure of ribosomes. In eukaryotes this complex is composed of two components, the 5S rRNA and a single ribosomal protein which in yeast has a molecular weight of about 38 000. The primary protein-binding site is located in the 3′-end region of the 5S RNA together with a small portion of the 5′ end. The primary RNA-binding site appears to be situated in the C-terminal end of the protein (YL3 in yeast) but the binding specificity requires other structural elements in the N-terminal half of the molecule. When compared with prokaryotic 5S RNA – protein complexes, various physical and chemical studies suggest that the basic structure and interactions have been conserved in the course of evolution, but that the single larger eukaryotic 5S RNA binding protein has evolved through a fusion of genes for the multiple 5S RNA binding proteins in prokaryotes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-364
Author(s):  
M. Sankaranarayanan ◽  
Timothy T. Weil

Drosophila eggs are highly polarised cells that use RNA–protein complexes to regulate storage and translational control of maternal RNAs. Ribonucleoprotein granules are a class of biological condensates that form predominantly by intracellular phase separation. Despite extensive in vitro studies testing the physical principles regulating condensates, how phase separation translates to biological function remains largely unanswered. In this perspective, we discuss granules in Drosophila oogenesis as a model system for investigating the physiological role of phase separation. We review key maternal granules and their properties while highlighting ribonucleoprotein phase separation behaviours observed during development. Finally, we discuss how concepts and models from liquid–liquid phase separation could be used to test mechanisms underlying granule assembly, regulation and function in Drosophila oogenesis.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 6547-6557
Author(s):  
Y K Kwon ◽  
N B Hecht

The synthesis of the protamines, the predominant nuclear proteins of mammalian spermatozoa, is regulated during germ cell development by mRNA storage for about 7 days in the cytoplasm of differentiating spermatids. Two highly conserved sequences, the Y and H elements present in the 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of all known mammalian protamine mRNAs, form RNA-protein complexes and specifically bind a protein of 18 kDa. Here, we show that translation of fusion mRNAs was markedly repressed in reticulocyte lysates supplemented with a mouse testis extract enriched for the 18-kDa protein when the mRNAs contained the 3' UTR of mouse protamine 2 (mP2) or the Y and H elements of mP2. No significant decrease was seen when the fusion mRNAs contained the 3' UTR of human growth hormone. The 18-kDa protein is developmentally regulated in male germ cells, requires phosphorylation for RNA binding, and is found in the ribonucleoprotein particle fractions of a testicular postmitochondrial supernatant. We propose that a phosphorylated 18-kDa protein plays a primary role in repressing translation of mP2 mRNA by interaction with the highly conserved Y and H elements. At a later stage of male gamete differentiation, the 18-kDa protein no longer binds to the mRNA, likely as a result of dephosphorylation, enabling the protamine mRNA to be translated.


2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 1741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine K. Flores ◽  
James L. Walshe ◽  
Sandro F. Ataide

RNA biology has changed completely in the past decade with the discovery of non-coding RNAs. Unfortunately, obtaining mechanistic information about these RNAs alone or in cellular complexes with proteins has been a major problem. X-ray crystallography of RNA and RNA–protein complexes has suffered from the major problems encountered in preparing and purifying them in large quantity. Here, we review the available techniques and methods in vitro and in vivo used to prepare and purify RNA and RNA–protein complex for crystallographic studies. We also discuss the future directions necessary to explore the vast number of RNA species waiting for their atomic-resolution structure to be determined.


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