TY - JOUR
T1 - RNA multimerization as an organizing force for liquid–liquid phase separation
AU - Bevilacqua, Philip C.
AU - Williams, Allison M.
AU - Chou, Hong Li
AU - Assmann, Sarah M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health grants R35 GM127064 to P.C.B. and National Science Foundation PGRP grant IOS-2122357 to P.C.B. and S.M.A. We thank members of our laboratories for helpful comments on the manuscript and Professor Roy Parker and Dr. Nina Ripin for their helpful review of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Bevilacqua et al.
PY - 2022/1
Y1 - 2022/1
N2 - RNA interactions are exceptionally strong and highly redundant. As such, nearly any two RNAs have the potential to interact with one another over relatively short stretches, especially at high RNA concentrations. This is especially true for pairs of RNAs that do not form strong self-structure. Such phenomena can drive liquid–liquid phase separation, either solely from RNA–RNA interactions in the presence of divalent or organic cations, or in concert with proteins. RNA interactions can drive multimerization of RNA strands via both base-pairing and tertiary interactions. In this article, we explore the tendency of RNA to form stable monomers, dimers, and higher order structures as a function of RNA length and sequence through a focus on the intrinsic thermodynamic, kinetic, and structural properties of RNA. The principles we discuss are independent of any specific type of biomolecular condensate, and thus widely applicable. We also speculate how external conditions experienced by living organisms can influence the formation of nonmembranous compartments, again focusing on the physical and structural properties of RNA. Plants, in particular, are subject to diverse abiotic stresses including extreme temperatures, drought, and salinity. These stresses and the cellular responses to them, including changes in the concentrations of small molecules such as polyamines, salts, and compatible solutes, have the potential to regulate condensate formation by melting or strengthening base-pairing. Reversible condensate formation, perhaps including regulation by circadian rhythms, could impact biological processes in plants, and other organisms.
AB - RNA interactions are exceptionally strong and highly redundant. As such, nearly any two RNAs have the potential to interact with one another over relatively short stretches, especially at high RNA concentrations. This is especially true for pairs of RNAs that do not form strong self-structure. Such phenomena can drive liquid–liquid phase separation, either solely from RNA–RNA interactions in the presence of divalent or organic cations, or in concert with proteins. RNA interactions can drive multimerization of RNA strands via both base-pairing and tertiary interactions. In this article, we explore the tendency of RNA to form stable monomers, dimers, and higher order structures as a function of RNA length and sequence through a focus on the intrinsic thermodynamic, kinetic, and structural properties of RNA. The principles we discuss are independent of any specific type of biomolecular condensate, and thus widely applicable. We also speculate how external conditions experienced by living organisms can influence the formation of nonmembranous compartments, again focusing on the physical and structural properties of RNA. Plants, in particular, are subject to diverse abiotic stresses including extreme temperatures, drought, and salinity. These stresses and the cellular responses to them, including changes in the concentrations of small molecules such as polyamines, salts, and compatible solutes, have the potential to regulate condensate formation by melting or strengthening base-pairing. Reversible condensate formation, perhaps including regulation by circadian rhythms, could impact biological processes in plants, and other organisms.
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U2 - 10.1261/rna.078999.121
DO - 10.1261/rna.078999.121
M3 - Article
C2 - 34706977
AN - SCOPUS:85121297143
VL - 28
SP - 16
EP - 26
JO - RNA
JF - RNA
SN - 1355-8382
IS - 1
ER -