RNA Modifications

Dear Colleagues,

The field of RNA modification, that started in 1957 with the discovery of the fifth nucleotide pseudouridine has recently gone through a revival or, as recently discussed by one of the pioneers of the field, Henri Grosjean, a new golden era (RNA. 2015 Apr; 21(4): 625–626). Over 100 different modifications are found in RNAs and in the last 20 years a combination of biochemical, genetic and bioinformatic studies has allowed the identification of many of the enzymes responsible for their synthesis that had been missing for decades. It is now clear that every type of nucleic acid in cells undergoes some type of modification, including, but not limited to, DNA, rRNA, snRNA, miRNA and tRNA. This has led to the discovery of new enzyme families, has revealed a great diversity of RNA recognition modes and allowed to address the functional roles of many modifications. RNA modification detection and quantification methods derived from new generation sequencing techniques as well as new developments in advanced mass spectrometry have recently revolutionized the field.  We are just starting to appreciate the multiple roles that RNA modifications have in the cell and how these fundamental processes are linked to human diseases. These recent studies have also shown the strong parallels between RNA editing and RNA modification, between DNA and RNA modifications and between the modification of tRNAs and modifications of other types of RNAs with the different fields cross-fertilizing each other.
This is a very exciting time in the field and we encourage scientists of diverse backgrounds (biochemical, genetic, systems biology) and who use different model systems to contribute original research or review articles that focus on the synthesis or function of RNA modifications.

Prof. Dr. Valérie de Crécy-Lagard
Prof. Dr. Juan Alfonzo
Guest Editors

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