New use of protein has been found to open a new chapter for disease treatment

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered new uses of RNA binding proteins. The findings reveal potential treatment options for neurological diseases and related disorders (such as autism, epilepsy, and certain types of cancer).

"This discovery enables us to think from the other side: whether our newly discovered RNA binding protein dysfunction leads to these deficiencies," said Dr. Michael Buszczak, who is the author of the study, an associate professor of molecular biology and a senior researcher at UT Southwest regeneration scientific and medical center.

The study article was published in the journal Developmental Cell, and the results showed that: RNA-binding protein (Rbfox) is responsible to oversee the regulation of messenger RNA (mRNA) in the synthesis of protein engineering. Taking drosophila as the objective of study, the researchers found that Rbfox1 protein has a regulatory role during the process.

Gene encoding process, i.e. the process exon splicing of mRNA, Rbfox1 protein plays a key role in the transcription process to make good protein translation success rate doubled. Splicing occurs mainly in the nucleus site, and the study found that the nucleus contains many Rbfox1 proteins. But also found in the cytoplasm of Rbfox1 mutated protein, which is part of the function of proteins that we previously did not know. “We found that cytoplasmic Rbfox1 inhibit the synthesis of certain proteins," Dr. Buszczak representation.

The first author of the study, UT Southwest molecular biology graduate student Arnaldo Carreira-Rosario found that Rbfox1 can bind to specific messenger RNA molecules that block this messenger RNA is translated into proteins. If Rbfox1 protein loss, the mRNA molecules will no longer be suppressed, which may lead to abnormal cell growth or even cancer.

The researchers found that cytoplasmic proteins are Rbfox1 Drosophila germ cell development required. "Without this protein, differentiation of germ cells is blocked in a special stage, it will not be down. They can’t differentiate into mature eggs," Dr. Buszczak representation. Eggs which can't mature will result in sterile fruit fly and in other cases lead to inappropriate cell proliferation which formed a cancer.

Corresponding author of the study, Dr. Mani Ramaswami worked at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, said the study found a link between Rbfox1 protein function and neuronal development. Rbfox1 protein may have important aspect significance in development of interference with neurological disorders.

"We believe that after the inactivation of Rbfox1 protein, it will affect the expression of certain proteins, ultimately causing disease. But it doesn't affect the process of RNA splicing," Dr. Buszczak said. "If this interpretation is correct, it will affect people on the part of developing regimen of the disease treatment."

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