An emerging body of evidence indicates that post-transcriptional gene regulation not only relies on the linear sequence of messenger RNAs but also on their folding into intricate secondary structures and on chemical modification of the RNA bases. These features, which are highly dynamic and interdependent, exert direct control over the transcriptome thereby influencing many aspects of cell function. Here, we consider that coupling of RNA modifications and structure actively shapes RNA-protein interactions through individual steps of gene expression.

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