Premium
RNA ‐protein interactions in an unstructured context
Author(s) -
Zagrovic Bojan,
Bartonek Lukas,
Polyansky Anton A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1002/1873-3468.13116
Subject(s) - nucleobase , computational biology , rna , affinities , genetic code , context (archaeology) , rna binding protein , protein–protein interaction , binding affinities , chemistry , biology , genetics , biochemistry , dna , gene , paleontology , receptor
Despite their importance, our understanding of noncovalent RNA –protein interactions is incomplete. This especially concerns the binding between RNA and unstructured protein regions, a widespread class of such interactions. Here, we review the recent experimental and computational work on RNA –protein interactions in an unstructured context with a particular focus on how such interactions may be shaped by the intrinsic interaction affinities between individual nucleobases and protein side chains. Specifically, we articulate the claim that the universal genetic code reflects the binding specificity between nucleobases and protein side chains and that, in turn, the code may be seen as the Rosetta stone for understanding RNA –protein interactions in general.