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　　近日，来自英国萨里大学的研究人员发现了一类重要蛋白质可以执行且调节关键的生物过程，该研究发表于杂志Nature Structural and Molecular Biology上；研究者表示，这些蛋白及调节过程的功能异常往往和一系列疾病直接相关，比如癌症等，该研究或可帮助开发新型有效的疗法来治疗人类难以治愈的疾病。

　　文章中，研究者在面包酵母和线虫机体中首次深入揭示了一类调节性蛋白（RNA结合蛋白）的重要作用以及其同mRNA的相互作用，由于这两种有机体完全不同，因此研究者发现这种特殊蛋白在进化上具有一定的保守性，同时还发现了代谢性酶类的新功能，研究者认为这种功能存在几十亿年了。

　　研究者André Gerber教授说道，这是一项突破性的发现，我们所鉴别的蛋白质和关键调节过程在人类机体中也存在，而且和多种人类疾病直接相关联，比如癌症和神经变性疾病等。目前我们就可以利用新型技术来检测这种控制关键生物过程的新型机制可以帮助开发新型的癌症疗法。

　　最后研究者指出，这或许是因为在蛋白质出现之前，RNA可以驱动这种功能的发挥，从而使其又回归到了古老的机制阶段；或者是这一类蛋白质隐藏着我们并不知道的功能。

　　doi:10.1038/nsmb.3128

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　　Conserved mRNA-binding proteomes in eukaryotic organisms

　　Ana M Matia-González, Emma E Laing &André P Gerber

　　RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are essential for post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Recent high-throughput screens have dramatically increased the number of experimentally identified RBPs; however, comprehensive identification of RBPs within living organisms is elusive. Here we describe the repertoire of 765 and 594 proteins that reproducibly interact with polyadenylated mRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Caenorhabditis elegans, respectively. Furthermore, we report the differential association of mRNA-binding proteins (mRPBs) upon induction of apoptosis in C. elegans L4-stage larvae. Strikingly, most proteins composing mRBPomes, including components of early metabolic pathways and the proteasome, are evolutionarily conserved between yeast and C. elegans. We speculate, on the basis of our evidence that glycolytic enzymes bind distinct glycolytic mRNAs, that enzyme-mRNA interactions relate to an ancient mechanism for post-transcriptional coordination of metabolic pathways that perhaps was established during the transition from the early 'RNA world' to the 'protein world'.