RNA modifications and RNA-binding proteins: interactions, regulation, and new avenues for therapeutic modulation

Abstract

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are central regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression, recognizing RNAs through sequence, structure, and chemical modifications. Post-transcriptional RNA modifications, including m6A, m1A, m5C, m7G, and pseudouridine (Ψ), form the epitranscriptome, a dynamic regulatory layer that modulates RNA stability, localization, and translation. These modifications are interpreted by specialized “reader” RBPs that translate epitranscriptomic marks into functional outcomes. Dysregulation of RNA modifications or their associated reader RBPs has been increasingly linked to the development of cancers, neurological disorders, and other diseases, highlighting their potential for therapeutic manipulation. This review summarizes key RNA modifications and regulating RBPs with a specific emphasis on how dysregulation can lead to cancers. We further discuss current approaches for investigating and manipulating reader RBP–RNA interactions, highlighting how these methods enable new opportunities for therapeutic discovery.