RNA imprinting by zinc-finger proteins

Abstract

RNA imprinting refers to the co-transcriptional binding of (a) factor(s) that remain associated with the RNA as it enters the cytoplasm, where it/they regulate(s) post-transcriptional processes. Transcription factors (TFs), such as yeast Sfp1 and mammalian tristetraprolin, FUS, and Yin–Yang 1, exemplify RNA imprinting by zinc-binding proteins. These TFs contain large intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) and have the capacity to bind both DNA and RNA. The most prevalent zinc-binding domains among TFs are zinc fingers (ZFs), which recognize nucleic acids through modular tandem arrangements. We hypothesize that the structural organization of ZFs enables switching between DNA and RNA during transcription. The IDRs of these TFs, together with the nascent RNA, contribute to transcription-related biomolecular condensates that may facilitate this switching, enabling their imprinting.