RNA chaperones are ubiquitous proteins that play pivotal roles in cellular RNA metabolism and RNA virus replication. Here we propose that they act by organizing complex and highly dynamic networks of RNA-RNA, RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions. How this is achieved and how their malfunction may lead to disease will be discussed through the examples of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleocapsid protein (NCp7), the fragile X mental retardation protein and the prion protein.
Key words. Intrinsically unstructured proteins - RNA-binding proteins - RNA chaperones - human immunodeficiency virus - NCp7 - fragile X mental retardation - FMRP - prion diseases
Received 9 March 2005; received after revision 6 April 2005; accepted 6 April 2005
Dedicated to the memory of Dominique Dormont