RNA and cellular proteins

The term 'RNA and cellular proteins' refers to the complex and dynamic associations between various forms of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which together form ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes (NIH, 2023). These complexes are fundamental to cellular physiology, mediating critical processes such as transcription, splicing, nuclear export, translation, and RNA degradation (ACS, 2023). In the context of pathology, particularly viral infections like HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, the interaction between viral RNA and host cellular proteins is essential for the viral life cycle, including genome replication and virion assembly (J. Virol., 2016; Kamel et al., 2020). For example, the HIV-1 Rev protein acts as an adaptor between viral RNA and the cellular nuclear export machinery to facilitate the transport of unspliced transcripts (Heguy, 1997). Because these interactions are often specific to the disease state, they represent a broad class of potential therapeutic targets for antiviral and anticancer agents (ResearchGate, 2020). However, 'RNA and cellular proteins' is not a single therapeutic target but rather a general category of molecular interactions, making the term technically incorrect as a specific target name. Drugs that interact with these complexes, such as obefazimod (ABX464) or splicing modifiers like risdiplam, work by selectively disrupting or modulating specific RNA-protein interfaces (Retrovirology, 2015; PubMed, 2021). The broad and essential nature of these interactions in normal cells poses a significant challenge for drug development, requiring high specificity to avoid systemic toxicity (Frontiers, 2024).

Other names

RibonucleoproteinRNPRNA-protein complexRNA-binding protein complexRibonucleoprotein complex

Modulation of RNA-protein interactions, inhibition of viral assembly, or alteration of RNA splicing and stability.