RNA is one of the most fascinating biomolecules in living systems given its structural versatility to fold into elaborate architectures for important biological functions such as gene regulation, catalysis, and information storage. Knowledge of RNA structures and interactions can provide deep insights into their functional roles in vivo. For decades, RNA structural studies have been conducted on a transcript-by-transcript basis. The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled the development of transcriptome-wide structural probing methods to profile the global landscape of RNA structures and interactions, also known as the RNA structurome and interactome, which transformed our understanding of the RNA structure–function relationship on a transcriptomic scale. In this review, molecular tools and NGS methods used for RNA structure probing are presented, novel insights uncovered by RNA structurome and interactome studies are highlighted, and perspectives on current challenges and potential future directions are discussed. A more complete understanding of the RNA structures and interactions in vivo will help illuminate the novel roles of RNA in gene regulation, development, and diseases.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
October 2016
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
Alternative splicing of intrinsically disordered segments can rewire protein interaction networks. In this issue, the Biochemical Society’s Colworth Medal winner, M. Madan Babu explores the contribution of intrinsically disordered regions to protein function, cellular complexity and human disease; see pages 1185–1200. [Credit: Guilhem Chalancon, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.]
Review Article|
October 19 2016
Dawn of the in vivo RNA structurome and interactome
Chun Kit Kwok
Chun Kit Kwok
1Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
2Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, U.K.
3Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Biochem Soc Trans (2016) 44 (5): 1395–1410.
Article history
Received:
March 22 2016
Revision Received:
June 19 2016
Accepted:
July 04 2016
Citation
Chun Kit Kwok; Dawn of the in vivo RNA structurome and interactome. Biochem Soc Trans 15 October 2016; 44 (5): 1395–1410. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20160075
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.