Regulatory Roles of Unstructured Regions in RNA-binding Proteins

Friday February 18th, 2022 in Hand 1144

Abstract: Unstructured protein regions account for over 50% of the RNA-binding proteome. These unstructured regions are rich in charged residues and phosphorylation sites. Our systematic search identified a largely neglected repetitive sequence family we define as electronegative clusters (ENCs) that contain acidic residues and/or phosphorylation sites. Using multiple protein models, we found that ENCs stabilize RNA-binding proteins and inhibit nonspecific RNA binding via intramolecular interactions. Using the high throughput method, RNA Bind-n-Seq, we found that ENCs inhibit disparate RNA motifs differently, instead of weakening all RNA motifs to the same extent. The motif site directly involved in electrostatic interaction is more susceptible to the ENC inhibition. These results suggest that one of functions of ENCs is to regulate RNA binding via electrostatic interaction. This is consistent with our finding that ENCs are also overrepresented in DNA-binding proteins, while underrepresented in halophiles, in which nonspecific nucleic acid binding is addressed by high concentrations of salts.

Bio: Dr. Jun Zhang received his Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2011 under supervision of Dr. Andrew Lee. He then worked as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Traci Hall’s lab at National Institute of Environmental Health and Sciences (NIH/NIEHS). With training in NMR dynamics, crystallography, and RNA biology, he started his independent career in 2016 in the Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham. His research group is focused on the regulatory roles of intrinsically disordered regions in RNA-binding proteins. More information can be found https://sites.uab.edu/zhanguab/.

Please join us for a reception with Dr. Zhang at 3:00 PM in Hand 1134.
Hosted by:  Dr. Dongmao Zhang