Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2020 Jan 2;12(1):a032425. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a032425.
RNA molecules fold into complex three-dimensional structures that sample alternate conformations ranging from minor differences in tertiary structure dynamics to major differences in secondary structure. This allows them to form entirely different substructures with each population potentially giving rise to a distinct biological outcome. The substructures can be partitioned along an existing energy landscape given a particular static cellular cue or can be shifted in response to dynamic cues such as ligand binding. We review a few key examples of RNA molecules that sample alternate conformations and how these are capitalized on for control of critical regulatory functions.
RNA 分子折叠成复杂的三维结构，这些结构可以采用不同的构象，从三级结构动力学的微小差异到二级结构的重大差异。这使得它们能够形成完全不同的亚结构，每个亚结构都有可能产生不同的生物学结果。在特定的静态细胞信号存在的情况下，可以沿着现有的能量景观对这些亚结构进行划分，或者可以对其进行调整以响应动态信号，如配体结合。我们将回顾一些 RNA 分子采样不同构象的关键实例，以及如何利用这些构象来控制关键的调控功能。
