Press Release The cell’s ‘New World’ First complete atlas of RNA-binding proteins could point to function of genes linked to diseases Heidelberg, 31 May 2012 – In one of the most famous faux pas of exploration, Columbus set sail for India and instead ‘discovered’ America. Similarly, when scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, set out to find enzymes – the proteins that carry out chemical reactions inside cells – that bind to RNA, they too found more than they expected: 300 proteins previously unknown to bind to RNA – more than half as many as were already known to do so. The study, published online today in Cell, could help to explain the role of genes that have been linked to diseases like diabetes and glaucoma. “We are very excited that, unlike Columbus, we found what we were looking for: well-known enzymes that bind to RNA,” says Matthias Hentze, who led the study at EMBL with Jeroen Krijgsveld. “But we never thought there was still so much unexplored territory, so many of these RNA-binding proteins Scientists catalogued all proteins that bind to RNA, finding 300 previously to be discovered.” unknown to do so. Almost 50 of the new proteins Hentze and Krijgsveld found are encoded by genes known to be mutated in patients suffering isolating all proteins that bind to RNA in living cells. The new from a variety of diseases, from diabetes and glaucoma to approach will have many further uses, as it can be applied prostate and pancreatic cancers. This finding opens new avenues to other cell types and conditions, to explore which proteins for researchers studying these disorders. It raises the possibility bind to RNA under different circumstances. This will enable that such conditions could be caused by a malfunction not in scientists to study how the cell’s machinery adapts to stressful the protein’s previously established function, but in its potential situations, responds to drugs or to changes in metabolism, or role in RNA control. is altered in disease. The idea that enzymes might also function as genetic The work was carried out in collaboration with Thomas Preiss regulators, by binding to RNA and controlling its function, from The John Curtin School of Medical Research at The had already been raised by previous work in the Hentze lab. To Australian National University and the Victor Chang Cardiac investigate further, Alfredo Castello, Bernd Fischer at EMBL Research Institute, also in Australia. and colleagues developed a new method for identifying and Source Article Castello, A., Fischer, B., Eichelbaum, K., Horos, R., Beckmann, B.M., Strein, C., Davey, N.E., Humphreys, D.T., Preiss, T., Steinmetz, L., Krijgsveld, J. & Hentze, M.W. Insights into RNA biology from an atlas of mammalian mRNA-binding proteins. Published online in Cell on 31 May 2012. Contact: Sonia Furtado, EMBL Press Officer, Heidelberg, Germany, Tel: +49 6221 387 8263, www.embl.org, [email protected] About EMBL The European Molecular Biology Laboratory is a basic research institute funded by public research monies from 20 member states (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and associate member state Australia. Research at EMBL is conducted by approximately 85 independent groups covering the spectrum of molecular biology. The Laboratory has five units: the main Laboratory in Heidelberg, and Outstations in Hinxton (the European Bioinformatics Institute), Grenoble, Hamburg, and Monterotondo near Rome. The cornerstones of EMBL’s mission are: to perform basic research in molecular biology; to train scientists, students and visitors at all levels; to offer vital services to scientists in the member states; to develop new instruments and methods in the life sciences and to actively engage in technology transfer activities. Around 190 students are enrolled in EMBL’s International PhD programme. Additionally, the Laboratory offers a platform for dialogue with the general public through various science communication activities such as lecture series, visitor programmes and the dissemination of scientific achievements. Policy regarding use EMBL press and picture releases, including photographs, graphics and videos, are copyrighted by EMBL. They may be freely reprinted and distributed for non-commercial use via print, broadcast and electronic media, provided that proper attribution to authors, photographers and designers is made. High-resolution copies of the images can be downloaded from the EMBL web site: www.embl.org.