Roles of RNA-binding proteins in neurological disorders, COVID-19, and cancer

Abstract

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have emerged as important players in multiple biological processes including transcription regulation, splicing, R-loop homeostasis, DNA rearrangement, miRNA function, biogenesis, and ribosome biogenesis. A large number of RBPs had already been identified by different approaches in various organisms and exhibited regulatory functions on RNAs’ fate. RBPs can either directly or indirectly interact with their target RNAs or mRNAs to assume a key biological function whose outcome may trigger disease or normal biological events. They also exert distinct functions related to their canonical and non-canonical forms. This review summarizes the current understanding of a wide range of RBPs’ functions and highlights their emerging roles in the regulation of diverse pathways, different physiological processes, and their molecular links with diseases. Various types of diseases, encompassing colorectal carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, aberrantly express RBPs. We also highlight some recent advances in the field that could prompt the development of RBPs-based therapeutic interventions.

Discovering common pathogenetic processes between tuberculosis and COVID-19 by bioinformatics and system biology approach

“…Our results revealed that the GO biological process (BP) term RNA splicing was strongly associated with functions of these 11 common genes, indicating that this process is strongly linked to pathogenic mechanisms of both COVID-19 and PTB. Notably, viruses like SARS-CoV-2 manipulate host splicing to bolster replication [ [15] , [16] , [17] ], while in PTB, splicing plays regulatory roles in both the host immune response and pathogen survival [ 18 , 19 ]. Therefore, targeting of splicing factors may impede viral or bacterial replication and enhance immune responses.…”

SERBP1 interacts with PARP1 and is present in PARylation-dependent protein complexes regulating splicing, cell division, and ribosome biogenesis

“…RBPs are particularly relevant in the nervous system, where they regulate critical aspects of neurogenesis, neuronal function, and nervous system development (4,5). Alterations in RBP expression and function are linked to neurological disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain tumor development (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12).…”

RNA-binding proteins potentially regulate the alternative splicing of apoptotic genes during knee osteoarthritis progression

“…In the nucleus, some RNA-binding proteins (RBP) often function as AS regulators in a particular way in the disease course [ 13 , 14 ]. Functional disruptions in RBPs may be a major cause or consequence of a disease [ 15 , 16 ]. CUGBP Elav-like family (CELF) and muscleblind-like (MBNL) proteins are some examples of RBPs functioning as splicing regulators; they play vital roles in myotonic dystrophy by promoting opposite effects on the splice site or exon usage, affecting mRNA localization and stability in the cytoplasm [ 17 ].…”