RNA Structure and Regulation in Biological Processes
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 13
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
RNA molecules, through their complex and versatile structures—ranging from primary sequences to folded secondary structures and three-dimensional conformations—serve as central mediators for organisms to perceive environmental signals, execute regulatory functions, and respond to biotic stresses. The dynamic changes in RNA structure, combined with chemical modifications (such as m6A), constitute precise post-transcriptional regulatory networks that are extensively involved in critical processes, including gene expression regulation, cell fate determination, and immune responses.
Across all kingdoms of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota—structured RNAs are central to defence mechanisms, enabling pathogen recognition and the regulation of immune responses through RNA-guided pathways as well as RNA structure-dependent control of mRNA stability. In plant and animal defence mechanisms, RNA structures specifically recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and can activate RNA interference pathways or mediate the stability regulation of immune-related mRNAs through structural rearrangements. Concurrently, viruses have evolved sophisticated strategies that utilize their own RNA structural elements or hijack host RNA-binding proteins to evade immune surveillance and complete their replication cycles.
In-depth analysis of RNA structure–function relationships and their regulatory networks is not only crucial for elucidating the fundamental principles of host–pathogen interactions but also provides novel perspectives and targets for the development of RNA structure-based strategies for crop disease resistance, antiviral therapies, and molecular diagnostic tools.
Prof. Dr. Changrui Lu
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- RNA structure
- RNA three-dimensional conformation
- RNA dynamics
- RNA chemical modifications
- structural biology
- RNA–protein interactions
- RNA structures in plant disease resistance
- viral RNA structure and function
- computational structure prediction
- host–pathogen interactions
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
