Building specificity with nonspecific RNA-binding proteins.
Specificity is key to biological regulation. Two families of RNA binding proteins, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins and serine-arginine-rich proteins, were initially thought to have redundant or nonspecific biochemical functions. Recently, members of these families have been found as components of distinct regulatory complexes with highly specific and essential roles in mRNA metabolism. Here we discuss the basis for their functional specificity and the mechanisms of action of some of their characteristic protein domains.
Singh
Ravinder
R
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA. rsingh@colorado.edu
Valcárcel
Juan
J
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D000596:Amino Acids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; C026452:messenger ribonucleoprotein