Effects of Asymmetric Arginine Dimethylation on RNA‐Binding Peptides

On and off : Arginine methylation is a frequent epigenetic change in RNA‐binding proteins. Here, using a number of modified proteins, we demonstrated that a variety of binding affinity changes occur upon arginine methylation of Rev peptide. α Helicity, reductions of H bonds, and increase of hydrophobic interactions are three major factors that alter affinity. This methylation could be used as a reversible switch to differentiate protein–RNA interactions in a selective manner.