Exploring the Possibility of RNA in Diverse Biological Processes

Dear Colleagues,

Unlike DNA, RNA is single-stranded and behaves as a translator to convert genetic information from DNA to proteins in “Central Dogma”.  However, RNA is not only a massager molecule but also works as a regulator of gene expression in multiple contexts. With rapid research advancement, RNA molecules are extensively studied. Various RNAs with different features including structures, lengths, modifications, and cellular localizations have been recognized. In particular, identification of non-coding RNAs renovates the understanding of genome and enriches regulatory studies in molecular biology. More interestingly, different types of RNA interact with different RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with unknown functions. RNA studies would better illustrate the functions of these RBPs. Current studies show that regulatory RNAs play important functions in various pathological and physiological processes. Exploring the possibility of RNA in diverse biological processes not only helps us to better understand the basic regulation principles but also has important implications in the development of therapies. According to the current understanding of RNA biology, the RNA field mainly includes the following five areas: RNA biogenesis pathways, RNA structures, functions for the various classes of RNAs, role of RNA in disease, and RNA-based and RNA-targeted therapies. For this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and up-to-date review articles that provide novel insights into these RNA-centered topics.

Dr. Yajing Hao
Dr. Lantao Gou
Guest Editors

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-anonymized 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.