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Membrane linked RNA glycosylation as new trend to envision epi-transcriptome epoch

Cancer Gene Therapy volume 30, pages 641–646 (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

RNAs play several prominent roles in the cellular environment ranging from structural, messengers, translators, and effector molecules. RNA molecules while performing these roles are associated with several chemical modifications occurring post-transcriptionally, responsible for these supporting vital functions. The recent documentation of surface RNA modification with sialic acid residues has sparked advancement to the framework of RNA modifications. Glycan modification of surface RNA which was previously known to modify only proteins and lipids has opened new vistas to explore how these surface RNA modifications affect the cellular responses and phenotype. This paradigm shift in RNA biology with a vision of “glycans being all over the cells” has posed the field with a repertoire of questions and has given headway to the RNA world hypothesis. The review provides a comprehensive overview of glycoRNA discovery with a conceptual understanding of its previous underlying discoveries and their biological consequences with possible insights into the dynamic influence of this modification on their molecular versatility deciding cancer-immunology fate with potential implications of these glycosylation in cellular interaction, signaling, immune regulation, cancer evasion and proliferation.

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Fig. 1: Surface localization of glycoRNA and its interactions.
Fig. 2: The milestone in discovery of glycoRNAs on the cell surface.
Fig. 3: The falling limelight on future possibility of events resulting from the glycoRNA discovery.

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Acknowledgements

The authors also acknowledge the financial support from Indian government. WT was supported by a fellowship from the DST-INSPIRE, Government of India. VP was supported by a fellowship from Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Witty Tyagi, Vivek Pandey.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Oncology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India

    Witty Tyagi

  2. Faculty of Life Science and Biotechnology, South Asian University, Akbar Bhawan, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, India

    Vivek Pandey & Yuba Raj Pokharel

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WT and VP designed and conceived the study. WT, VP, wrote the initial manuscript WT designed the graphical figures. WT, VP, YRP discussed content, reviewed and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yuba Raj Pokharel.

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Tyagi, W., Pandey, V. & Pokharel, Y.R. Membrane linked RNA glycosylation as new trend to envision epi-transcriptome epoch. Cancer Gene Ther 30, 641–646 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41417-022-00430-z

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