RNases in Health and Diseases
From Housekeeping Enzymes to Moonlight Proteins
- 1st Edition - June 1, 2026
- Latest edition
- Editor: Ester Boix
- Language: English
RNases in Health and Diseases: From Housekeeping Enzymes to Moonlight Proteins provides coverage of the structural and functional properties of RNases, introducing new concepts… Read more
RNases in Health and Diseases: From Housekeeping Enzymes to Moonlight Proteins provides coverage of the structural and functional properties of RNases, introducing new concepts such as their recently discovered multifaceted properties, their involvement in the generation of non-coding signaling RNAs, and their proposed uses as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. This book's sections cover the structure of RNases, present research methods and tools to study RNases, and delve into RNases and diseases. Users will find a wider perspective on the topics discussed that will serve researchers and students engaged in the study of RNases who are interested in acquiring a better understanding.
- Covers basic theoretical information, methodological tools, and potential therapeutic applications in the RNase field
- Introduces new concepts to the RNase field
- Includes both the historical background in the field and the most recent advances
- Contains contributions from international experts in the field
Early career and consolidated researchers working either in the RNases field or in a more general context on protein structure-function, Advanced undergraduate students and Master students within the Biochemistry, Enzymology, Structural Biology and Biomedicine areas
Section I: Structure
1. Overview. RNases, a family of multifaceted proteins
2. Catalytic mechanism of action: mechanism, exonucleases vs endonucleases, single stranded vs double stranded.
3. RNases diversity: vertebrate RNase A superfamily, RNase T2, RNase L, RNase kappa, plant RNase S, bacterial RNases
4. RNase in evolution: RNAs and RNases
5. RNA subsite binding sites
6. From monomers to multimers
7. RNases cellular traffic
8. RNases and tyrosine kinase receptors
9. RNases and posttranscriptional modifications
10. RNases targeting non-coding RNAs
11. RNase Inhibitors
Section II: Research Methods
12. Tools to study RNases:
a) labelled probes
b) HPLC product analysis,
c) Cp-RNAseq…
13. RNase-based tools: RNaseH, RNAse4 for RNA analysis,…CRISPR/Cas9
Section III: Diseases
14. RNases in infectious diseases
15. RNases in inflammatory disorders
16. RNases in cancer
17. Human Natural Variants
18. RNases as diagnostic tools
19. RNases as therapeutic targets
20. RNases and drug design: antitumoral, anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial agents
1. Overview. RNases, a family of multifaceted proteins
2. Catalytic mechanism of action: mechanism, exonucleases vs endonucleases, single stranded vs double stranded.
3. RNases diversity: vertebrate RNase A superfamily, RNase T2, RNase L, RNase kappa, plant RNase S, bacterial RNases
4. RNase in evolution: RNAs and RNases
5. RNA subsite binding sites
6. From monomers to multimers
7. RNases cellular traffic
8. RNases and tyrosine kinase receptors
9. RNases and posttranscriptional modifications
10. RNases targeting non-coding RNAs
11. RNase Inhibitors
Section II: Research Methods
12. Tools to study RNases:
a) labelled probes
b) HPLC product analysis,
c) Cp-RNAseq…
13. RNase-based tools: RNaseH, RNAse4 for RNA analysis,…CRISPR/Cas9
Section III: Diseases
14. RNases in infectious diseases
15. RNases in inflammatory disorders
16. RNases in cancer
17. Human Natural Variants
18. RNases as diagnostic tools
19. RNases as therapeutic targets
20. RNases and drug design: antitumoral, anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial agents
- Edition: 1
- Latest edition
- Published: June 1, 2026
- Language: English
EB
Ester Boix
Dr Ester Boix is leading the research group on ‘Human host defense RNases’ at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. After five years of postdoctoral studies (one year at the National Institutes of Health and four years at the University of Bath) in 2002 she was called to the Ramon y Cajal program as a Senior Research Fellow. Over her career she has contributed to the structural-functional characterization of ribonucleases. She is a pioneer in the development of novel expression systems for RNases’ production, the first 3D crystal structures, identification of secondary substrate binding sites and design of novel RNase- based antimicrobial peptides. Dr Boix has published over 90 papers and her main research interest focuses on the mechanism of action of RNases, as lead proteins for the design of novel therapies.
Affiliations and expertise
PI Host defence RNases Lab, Dpt. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain