The potential of engineered eukaryotic RNA‐binding proteins as molecular tools and therapeutics

Abstract

Eukaroytic RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) recognize and process RNAs through recognition of their sequence motifs via RNA‐binding domains (RBDs). RBPs usually consist of one or more RBDs and can include additional functional domains that modify or cleave RNA. Engineered RBPs have been used to answer basic biology questions, control gene expression, locate viral RNA in vivo, as well as many other tasks. Given the growing number of diseases associated with RNA and RBPs, engineered RBPs also have the potential to serve as therapeutics. This review provides an in depth description of recent advances in engineered RBPs and discusses opportunities and challenges in the field.