RNA-Binding Proteins Hold Key Roles in Function, Dysfunction, and Disease

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Chronic hyperglycemia manifests in a variety of different micro- and macrovascular disorders such as diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease and has been shown to have links to post-transcriptional dysregulation. Equally, the development and progress of other devastating disorders such as tumorigenesis and neurodegenerative disease have also been associated with dysfunction of molecules involved in epigenetics such as RNA-binding proteins. Recent advances, especially on an analytical systemic level, have revealed new roles for these proteins and their contribution in maintaining the balance between normal function and dysfunction/disease. ABSTRACT: RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are multi-faceted proteins in the regulation of RNA or its RNA splicing, localisation, stability, and translation. Amassing proof from many recent and dedicated studies reinforces the perception of RBPs exerting control through differing expression levels, cellular localization and post-transcriptional alterations. However, since the regulation of RBPs is reliant on the micro-environment and events like stress response and metabolism, their binding affinities and the resulting RNA-RBP networks may be affected. Therefore, any misregulation and disruption in the features of RNA and its related homeostasis can lead to a number of diseases that include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other disorders such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. As such, correct regulation of RNA and RBPs is crucial to good health as the effect RBPs exert through loss of function can cause pathogenesis. In this review, we will discuss the significance of RBPs and their typical function and how this can be disrupted in disease.