Molecular and Cellular Biology

Earlier studies in RNA biology were focused on unveiling the properties of messenger mRNA as part of its role in the central dogma of Biology. Since the discovery of various RNA species, it has become avidly clear that RNA is more versatile than originally thought. It is now well established that there are multiple RNA species, including coding RNAs, long non coding RNAs, microRNAs, circular RNAs with a main role in gene expression regulation, as well as other RNAs such as snoRNAs, tRNAs, rRNAs etc., with ever expanding functions and mechanisms of action in a broad range of biological processes.

A mere 2% of the genes transcribed encode mRNAs with protein-synthesis potential, while the vast majority of transcription process produces noncoding RNAs with functions that still remain elusive. To foster their functions, RNAs can interact with a plethora of micro- and macromolecules while they are often bound to RNA binding proteins which play an important role in their regulation. Given their multifaceted functions, interrupting or interfering with the processes that regulate the life of an RNA can lead to abnormal phenotypes. Indeed, dysregulation of RNAs has been associated with a vast array of diseases, including cancer, various age-related and genetic diseases as well as diseases caused by viral infections. Despite efforts to identify the significance of the role of RNA species, we have only scratched the surface.

This collection aims to emphasize the significance of the role of RNAs in disease. Shedding light on the function of RNAs will pave the way to better understand the pathophysiology of multiple diseases and design therapeutic approaches to improve human health. Subtopics will cover the molecular function and role of RNA species in disease such as:

How dysregulation of various aspects of mRNA life cycle affects disease

Non-coding RNAs in gene expression regulation

tRNAs, snoRNAs, and rRNAs in disease

RBPs in the molecular pathology of diseases

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Dr. Ioannis Grammatikakis is a Staff Scientist at the National Cancer Institute which part of the National Institutes of Health. During his PhD, he was trained in alternative splicing regulation, and since then he has developed an interest in multiple aspects of RNA biology. He is focusing his work on gene expression regulation by long non-coding RNAs and RBPs and their role in the molecular pathology of cancer.

 

Dr. Dimitrios Tsitsipatis is a Research Fellow at RNA Regulation Section/National Institute on Aging. During his postdoctoral time, he was trained in RNA biology, in particular on the importance of circular RNAs in aging and age-related declines. Since then, his work focuses on unveiling the importance of long non-coding RNAs and their interacting partners, such as RBPs, in the molecular mechanisms of aging age-related diseases.

 

Dr. Grammatikakis and Dr. Tsitsipatis declare no conflict of interest.

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