Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a molecule composed of nucleic acids that transfers the genetic information contained in DNA to produce the proteins that ensure the correct biological operation of every type of cell. We found that messenger RNA could act as a solubilizer, blocking the formation of protein aggregates that are potentially toxic to our organisms. In particular, we observed that the transcript conding for Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) interacts with many proteins and has a strong effect on protein aggregation. We experimentally demonstrated for the first time that, under conditions of stress, HSP70 mRNA has the ability to promote the removal of the protein aggregates that are responsible for serious neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Reference
de Groot NS, Armaos A, Graña-Montes R, Alriquet M, Calloni G, Vabulas RM & Tartaglia GG 2019, ‘ RNA structure drives interaction with proteins’, Nature Communications , 10, 3246.
In our study we observed that the quantity of structure in RNA molecules is correlated to the number of protein interactions. This reveals the existence of a regulation level that directly associates RNA to its protein products for all genes that are highly active in cellular processes. The results of the study extend our knowledge about the mechanisms through which protein aggregates are removed and recognize the fundamental role in this played by RNA, which controls more cellular processes than previously thought and that may play a fundamental role in neuro-degenerative pathologies.
