The Complex World of RNA-Protein Complexes—Emerging Players in Cellular Networks

Dear Colleagues,

RNAs are involved in almost every cellular process—from gene expression regulation to molecular chaperoning. They are capable of forming various interactions with other RNA molecules, proteins, and DNA, which enables them to play central roles in the formation of cellular networks. Central to their proper function is the correct recognition of their native partners and the proper regulation of binding. Accumulating evidence shows that the RNA structure is essential in the molecular recognition of RNA binding proteins, and the immense effort invested in identifying the RNA–protein interaction networks of cells has produced an ever-growing amount of information on the structure–function relationship of RNAs and RNA–protein complexes. A clear understanding of the nature of RNA–protein binding is further complicated by the nonconventional interactions between RNA and protein that induce phase separation and the formation of membraneless organelles. Urgent questions regarding the recognition specificity, regulation of binding, and structural determinants of such processes from both RNA and protein must be elucidated.

Given the crucial roles of these interactions in the development of several diseases, RNAs are becoming attractive targets for drug development, offering new strategies to tackle difficult medical challenges; however, effective targeting requires detailed structural knowledge, which is relatively limited to date.

The aim of this Topical Collection is to provide an opportunity for researchers to present their latest results in the field of RNA–protein interactions in relation to the regulation of various cellular processes, and also to offer summaries on the most recent developments in the research field.

We look forward to your contribution.

Dr. Ágnes Tantos
Collection Editor

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