Solid-state NMR spectroscopy for characterization of RNA and RNP complexes

Abstract

Ribonucleic acids are driving a multitude of biological processes where they act alone or in complex with proteins (ribonucleoproteins, RNP). To understand these processes both structural and mechanistic information about RNA is necessary. Due to their conformational plasticity RNA pose a challenge for mainstream structural biology methods. Solid-state NMR (ssNMR) spectroscopy is an emerging technique that can be applied to biomolecular complexes of any size in close-to-native conditions. This review outlines recent methodological developments in ssNMR for structural characterization of RNA and protein–RNA complexes and provides relevant examples.