A new perspective on microRNA-guided gene regulation specificity, and its potential generalization to transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins.

ABSTRACT: Our conception of gene regulation specificity has undergone profound changes over the last 20 years. Previously, regulators were considered to control few genes, recognized with exquisite specificity by a 'lock and key' mechanism. However, recently genome-wide exploration of regulator binding site occupancy (whether on DNA or RNA targets) revealed extensive lists of molecular targets for every studied regulator. Such poor biochemical specificity suggested that each regulator controls many genes, collectively contributing to biological phenotypes. Here, I propose a third model, whereby regulators' biological specificity is only partially due to 'lock and key' biochemistry. Rather, regulators affect many genes at the microscopic scale, but biological consequences for most interactions are at

SUBMITTER: Seitz H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11381331 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature