G-quadruplexes in long non-coding RNAs and their interactions with proteins

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as crucial regulators of cellular processes, with their dysregulation linked to various disease states. Among the structural motifs in lncRNAs, RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) have gained increasing attention due to their diverse roles in cellular function and disease pathogenesis. This review provides an updated and comprehensive overview of rG4s in lncRNAs, elucidating their formation, interaction with proteins, and distinctive roles in cellular processes. We discuss current methodologies for experimentally probing RNA G4s, including the use of specific small molecules, biomolecular ligands and fluorescent probes. The commonly found RNA G4-interacting protein domains are summarised along with potential strategies for disrupting lncRNA G4-protein interactions from a therapeutic perspective.

Keywords: G-quadruplex ligands; G-quadruplexes; Gene regulation; Proteins; Structure-function correlation; lncRNA.