Unconventional RNA-binding proteins in mitosis

Ribonucleoprotein complexes are dynamic assemblies of RNA associated with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which can modulate the fate of the RNA molecules from transcription to degradation. Dysregulation of RBPs is linked to diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders, which motivated the development of multiple approaches to catalog RBPs. RNA and RBPs are present in mitotic structures like the centrosomes and spindle microtubules, but their influence on mitotic spindle integrity remains unknown. The unconventional RNA-binding protein AURKA is investigated. Mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify AURKA RNA-dependent interaction partners.

核糖核蛋白复合物（Ribonucleoprotein complexes）是RNA与RNA结合蛋白（RNA-binding proteins，RBPs）结合形成的动态组装体，可调控RNA分子从转录至降解的全部命运历程。RNA结合蛋白的失调与癌症、神经系统疾病等多种疾病密切相关，这一关联推动了多种用于编录RNA结合蛋白的方法的开发。RNA与RNA结合蛋白存在于中心体、纺锤体微管等有丝分裂结构中，但二者对有丝分裂纺锤体完整性的影响仍未明确。本研究针对非典型RNA结合蛋白AURKA展开探究，采用质谱分析（Mass spectrometry analysis）鉴定其RNA依赖性互作伴侣蛋白。