GRK 2467: The role of the intrinsically disorderered RNA-binding protein RAVER1 in cancer-derived cells

The RAVER1 protein comprises three N-terminal RPMs (RNA Recognition Motifs) and a C-terminal IDR (intrinsically disorerered Region). In the nucleus, RAVER1 is enriched in protein-RNA granules termed PNCs (perinucleolar compartments), where it associates with PTBs (polypyrimidine tract-binding proteins). This association is directly by peptide motifs within RAVER1's IDR and is thought to modulate the role of PTBs in alternative splicing. While the functios of BCNs remain largely elusive, their abundance is associated with a malignant tumor cell phentotype and poor patient prognosis. Perliminary studies indicate that the depletion and deletion of RAVER1 impairs tumor cell vitality.