RNA AS A DRUG TARGET - CHEMICAL, MODELING, AND EVOLUTIONARY TOOLS

Dramatic technical progress in RNA synthesis and structure determinati on has allowed several difficulties inherent to the preparation, handl ing and structural analysis of RNA to be overcome, and this has led to a wealth of information about RNA structure and its relationship with biological function. It is now fully recognized that RNA molecules in tervene at all stages of cell life, not only because of key sequence m otifs but also because of intricate three-dimensional folds. This real ization has promoted RNA to a potential therapeutic target. As in prot ein motifs recognizing nucleic acids, groups of the molecule interacti ng with RNA contribute to specific binding through defined hydrogen bo nds and van der Waals docking, while other parts contribute to the dri ving force of binding via less specific electrostatic interactions acc ompanied by water and ion displacement. (C) Current Biology Ltd ISSN 0 958-1669.