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Key Points to Consider When Studying RNA Remodeling by Proteins

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RNA Remodeling Proteins

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1259))

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Abstract

Cellular RNAs depend on proteins for efficient folding to specific functional structures and for transitions between functional structures. This dependence arises from intrinsic properties of RNA structure. Specifically, RNAs possess stable local structure, largely in the form of helices, and they have abundant opportunities to form alternative helices and tertiary contacts and therefore to populate alternative structures. Proteins with RNA chaperone activity, either ATP-dependent or ATP-independent, can promote structural transitions by interacting with single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) to compete away partner interactions and then release ssRNA so that it can form new interactions. In this chapter we review the basic properties of RNA and the proteins that function as chaperones and remodelers. We then use these properties as a foundation to explore key points for the design and interpretation of experiments that probe RNA rearrangements and their acceleration by proteins.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 105 E, 24th St. Stop A5300, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    W. Luke Ward & Rick Russell

Authors
  1. W. Luke Ward
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  2. Rick Russell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rick Russell .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. CNRS Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Orléans, France

    Marc Boudvillain

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Ward, W.L., Russell, R. (2015). Key Points to Consider When Studying RNA Remodeling by Proteins. In: Boudvillain, M. (eds) RNA Remodeling Proteins. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1259. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2214-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2214-7_1

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2213-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2214-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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