An FSU team discovered a new part of the protein LARP6 that helps it recognize and stick to RNA very precisely. The protein is linked to diseases where too much collagen is made. “We’re trying to figure out how two molecules, just like LEGO pieces, fit together,” says researcher Robert Silvers. “We’re not just considering the structure of the LEGO pieces and how they fit together, but also how different parts of the LEGO pieces move around.”
The team found that the way LARP6 binds to RNA is directly involved in the biosynthesis of type I collagen, the protein involved in fibrosis. “Our new ‘LEGO piece’ uses a different kind of interaction with its RNA,” said Silvers. “It utilizes a different set of rules and the protein uses a different RNA binding site altogether.” This discovery could help scientists develop a treatment for fibrosis.
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