Transcription, translation, and DNA repair: new insights from emerging noncanonical substrates of RNA helicases

Abstract

RNA helicases are enzymes that exist in all domains of life whose canonical functions include ATP-dependent remodeling of RNA structures and displacement of proteins from ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs). These enzymes play roles in virtually all processes of RNA metabolism, including pre-mRNA splicing, rRNA processing, nuclear mRNA export, translation and RNA decay. Here we review emerging noncanonical substrates of RNA helicases including RNA-DNA hybrids (R-loops) and RNA and DNA G-quadruplexes and discuss their biological significance.

Keywords: DEAD-box helicase; DEAH-box helicase; G-quadruplexes; R-loops; RNA helicase; RNA-DNA hybrid.