The regulatory landscape of interacting RNA and protein pools in cellular homeostasis and cancer

Abstract

Biological systems encompass intricate networks governed by RNA-protein interactions that play pivotal roles in cellular functions. RNA and proteins constituting 1.1% and 18% of the mammalian cell weight, respectively, orchestrate vital processes from genome organization to translation. To date, disentangling the functional fraction of the human genome has presented a major challenge, particularly for noncoding regions, yet recent discoveries have started to unveil a host of regulatory functions for noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). While ncRNAs exist at different sizes, structures, degrees of evolutionary conservation and abundances within the cell, they partake in diverse roles either alone or in combination. However, certain ncRNA subtypes, including those that have been described or remain to be discovered, are poorly characterized given their heterogeneous nature. RNA activity is in most cases coordinated through interactions with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Extensive efforts are being made to accurately reconstruct RNA-RBP regulatory networks, which have provided unprecedented insight into cellular physiology and human disease. In this review, we provide a comprehensive view of RNAs and RBPs, focusing on how their interactions generate functional signals in living cells, particularly in the context of post-transcriptional regulatory processes and cancer.