Altered RNA Metabolism in Neurodegenerative Disorders

RNA metabolism entails steps such as RNA processing, maturation, transport, translation, and decay, which are crucial for the regulation and maintenance of correct transcriptomic and genetic signature across different cell types. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) interact with RNA to maintain RNA metabolism. Therefore, disruption of this RNA metabolism is linked to dysregulation of cellular processes involved in disease pathogenesis. Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by irreversible and progressive neuronal cell death. These diseases are caused by factors including microsatellite repeat expansions, RBPs, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), etc., which affect RNA metabolism at different levels like transcription, mRNA processing (capping or tailing), maturation, splicing, and even translation. Such altered RNA processing in diseases results in aberrant RNA metabolism leading to formation of RNA foci and even RNA granules that can cause cellular stress and cellular toxicity which has been implicated in worsening neuronal integrity and neurodegeneration. In this book chapter, we have discussed the role of RNA processing and metabolism in neuronal integrity and their deregulation resulting in neurodegenerative diseases.