The Glycine-rich Domain of GRP7 Plays a Crucial Role in Binding Long RNAs and Facilitating Phase Separation

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2024 Jul 11

PMID 38992080

Authors

Kim Lara Luhmann

Silja Seemann

Nina Martinek

Steffen Ostendorp

Julia Kehr

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Microscale thermophoresis (MST) is a well-established method to quantify protein-RNA interactions. In this study, we employed MST to analyze the RNA binding properties of glycine-rich RNA binding protein 7 (GRP7), which is known to have multiple biological functions related to its ability to bind different types of RNA. However, the exact mechanism of GRP7's RNA binding is not fully understood. While the RNA-recognition motif of GRP7 is known to be involved in RNA binding, the glycine-rich region (known as arginine-glycine-glycine-domain or RGG-domain) also influences this interaction. To investigate to which extend the RGG-domain of GRP7 is involved in RNA binding, mutation studies on putative RNA interacting or modulating sites were performed. In addition to MST experiments, we examined liquid-liquid phase separation of GRP7 and its mutants, both with and without RNA. Furthermore, we systemically investigated factors that might affect RNA binding selectivity of GRP7 by testing RNAs of different sizes, structures, and modifications. Consequently, our study revealed that GRP7 exhibits a high affinity for a variety of RNAs, indicating a lack of pronounced selectivity. Moreover, we established that the RGG-domain plays a crucial role in binding longer RNAs and promoting phase separation.

Citing Articles

Assessing the Role of GRP7 Arginine 141, a Target of Dimethylation by PRMT5, in Flowering Time Control and Stress Response.

Steffen A, Dombert K, Iglesias M, Nolte C, de Leone M, Yanovsky M Plants (Basel). 2024; 13(19).

PMID: 39409642 PMC: 11478431. DOI: 10.3390/plants13192771.

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