Targeting Ribonucleases with Small Molecules and Bifunctional Molecules

Abstract

Ribonucleases (RNases) cleave and process RNAs, thereby regulating the biogenesis, metabolism, and degradation of coding and noncoding RNAs. Thus, small molecules targeting RNases have the potential to perturb RNA biology, and RNases have been studied as therapeutic targets of antibiotics, antivirals, and agents for autoimmune diseases and cancers. Additionally, the recent advances in chemically induced proximity approaches have led to the discovery of bifunctional molecules that target RNases to achieve RNA degradation or inhibit RNA processing. Here, we summarize the efforts that have been made to discover small-molecule inhibitors and activators targeting bacterial, viral, and human RNases. We also highlight the emerging examples of RNase-targeting bifunctional molecules and discuss the trends in developing such molecules for both biological and therapeutic applications.

A Comprehensive Review on Circulating cfRNA in Plasma: Implications for Disease Diagnosis and Beyond

“…These precautions may include incorporating RNase inhibitors, storing the samples at low temperatures, and minimizing the samples' exposure to room temperature. Blood samples should be processed promptly following collection, and precautions should be taken to prevent contact with RNase-containing materials during sample handling in order to minimize RNA sample degradation attributable to RNase activity [126,127].…”