Establishing the catalytic and regulatory mechanism of RNA-based machineries

Ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-machineries are comprised of intricate networks of long noncoding RNAs and proteins that allow them to actively participate in transcription, RNA processing, and translation. RNP-machineries thus play vital roles in gene expression and regulation. Recent advances in cryo-EM techniques provided a wealth of near-atomic-level resolution structures setting the basis for understanding how these fascinating multiscale complexes exert their diverse roles. However, these structures represent only isolated snapshots of the plastic and highly dynamic RNP-machineries and are thus insufficient to comprehensively assess their multifaceted mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the role and merit of all-atom simulations in disentangling the mechanism of eukaryotic RNA-based machineries responsible for RNA processing. We showcase how all-atom simulations can capture their large-scale functional movements, trace the signaling pathways that are at the root of their massive conformational remodeling, explain recognition mechanisms of specific RNA sequences, and, lastly, unravel the chemical mechanisms underlying the formation of functional RNA strands. Finally, we review the methodological pitfalls and outline future challenges in modeling key functional aspects of these large molecular engines with all-atom simulations. In addition to providing insights into the most basic processes that govern all forms of life, in-depth mechanistic comprehension of RNP-machineries offers a foundation for developing innovative therapeutic strategies against the variety of human diseases linked to deregulated RNA metabolism. This article is categorized under: Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics.