Z-RNA biology: a central role in the innate immune response?

Z-RNA is a higher-energy, left-handed conformation of RNA, whose function has remained elusive. A growing body of work alludes to regulatory roles for Z-RNA in the immune response. Here, we review how Z-RNA features present in cellular RNAs-especially containing retroelements-could be recognized by...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inRNA (Cambridge) Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 273 - 281
Main Authors Nichols, Parker J, Krall, Jeffrey B, Henen, Morkos A, Vögeli, Beat, Vicens, Quentin
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 01.03.2023
Subjects
Adenosine Deaminase - metabolism
Amino Acids
Biology
Conformation
DNA, Z-Form
Handedness
Immune response
Immunity, Innate - genetics
Innate immunity
Mini-Review
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
RNA - chemistry
retroelement
innate immune response
Zα
adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR1)
Z-D/RNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1)
Z-RNA
E3L
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Summary:Z-RNA is a higher-energy, left-handed conformation of RNA, whose function has remained elusive. A growing body of work alludes to regulatory roles for Z-RNA in the immune response. Here, we review how Z-RNA features present in cellular RNAs-especially containing retroelements-could be recognized by a family of winged helix proteins, with an impact on host defense. We also discuss how mutations to specific Z-contacting amino acids disrupt their ability to stabilize Z-RNA, resulting in functional losses. We end by highlighting knowledge gaps in the field, which, if addressed, would significantly advance this active area of research.
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ISSN:1355-8382
1469-9001
DOI:10.1261/rna.079429.122