RNA G-quadruplexes and stress: emerging mechanisms and functions.

Trends Cell Biol

Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address:

Published: September 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) are specialized RNA structures made from guanine-rich sequences, which are involved in various biological functions like translation and RNA stability.
  • Recent studies indicate that rG4s are important in the cellular response to stress, affecting how cells manage challenging conditions.
  • This review explores how rG4s are formed and regulated during stress, their effects on RNA and gene expression, and discusses their potential therapeutic roles in treating stress-related diseases.

Article Abstract

RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) are noncanonical secondary structures formed by guanine-rich sequences that are found in different regions of RNA molecules. These structures have been implicated in diverse biological processes, including translation, splicing, and RNA stability. Recent studies have suggested that rG4s play a role in the cellular response to stress. This review summarizes the current knowledge on rG4s under stress, focusing on their formation, regulation, and potential functions in stress response pathways. We discuss the molecular mechanisms that regulate the formation of rG4 under different stress conditions and the impact of these structures on RNA metabolism, gene expression, and cell survival. Finally, we highlight the potential therapeutic implications of targeting rG4s for the treatment of stress-related diseases through modulating cell survival.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2024.01.005DOI Listing

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