RNAassociated

RNAassociated is a broad term used to describe biological phenomena, molecules, and complexes that interact with RNA. In this sense, RNA association encompasses proteins, ribonucleoprotein particles, and RNA species themselves as participants in cellular RNA metabolism, regulation, and function.

A major category of RNA-associated entities are RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Many RBPs recognize RNA through conserved domains and assemble into ribonucleoprotein complexes that influence RNA fate. Key RNA-associated complexes include the spliceosome, composed of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) that mediate pre-mRNA splicing; snoRNPs that modify ribosomal RNA; heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) involved in splicing and mRNA export; and the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which includes Argonaute proteins and small RNAs to regulate gene expression.

Functions of RNA-associated networks include RNA processing and maturation, localization and transport within the cell, translation control, and RNA stability or decay. Surveillance mechanisms such as nonsense-mediated decay rely on RNA-protein interactions to identify and degrade aberrant mRNAs. RNA trafficking and spatial regulation contribute to localized protein synthesis and developmental patterning, while assembly of ribosomes and small RNA pathways modulate gene expression at multiple levels.

Research on RNAassociated networks uses methods to map RNA-protein interactions, including RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and crosslinking-immunoprecipitation techniques (CLIP, iCLIP, eCLIP, PAR-CLIP). These approaches help delineate binding sites and networks in normal physiology and disease.

Misregulation of RNA-associated processes is linked to neurological disorders, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, highlighting the importance of RNA-protein interactions in health and pathology. The field continues to chart RNA-protein networks to understand post-transcriptional gene regulation.