Post-transcription meets post-genomic: The saga of RNA binding proteins in a new era

Abstract

Gene expression is regulated by a complex series of events that take place both at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. The mechanisms and factors involved in transcriptional regulation are relatively well understood, whereas post-transcriptional regulation, in comparison, is still a poorly appreciated process. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are the key regulators of all post-transcriptional events (RNA splicing, stability, transport and translation). Essentially, in order to improve our knowledge in post-transcriptional regulation, we need to elucidate the mechanisms employed by RBPs to control gene expression. The combination of genomic tools with traditional biochemical approaches generated novel technologies, like ribonomics. The application of these novel technologies not only had a profound impact in the study of RBPs but also created the ground work necessary for the identification of post-transcriptional gene networks; a selected group of mRNAs associated with a particular function or biological pathway/process that is regulated by the same RBP. In this review article, we explore the latest achievements and discuss future challenges that lie ahead in the RBP world. ©2006 Landes Bioscience.