Topic: Deciphering RNA Kingdom in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD), are a group of devastating disorders characterized by the progressive loss of neuronal structure and function. While the exact causes of these diseases are multifactorial and complex, growing evidence has highlighted the critical role of RNA and RNA-binding proteins in their pathogenesis by facilitating aberrant protein-RNA interaction, disrupting RNA metabolism, and impairing protein synthesis. RNA-based therapeutic approaches could offer promising avenues for the development of novel interventions to combat neurodegenerative disorders. This Special Issue focuses on the latest advancements in RNA biology and its implications for understanding and addressing neurodegenerative diseases.

Sub-topics:
1. Non-coding RNAs: Understanding the complex interplay between microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), and neurodegenerative diseases can provide potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
2. RNA-protein interactions: Investigation of the RNA-binding protein phase separation in response to cellular and environmental stimuli.
3. RNA modifications: Exploration of RNA methylation modifications (m5C, m6A, or m7G) for neurodegenerative diseases.
4. Alternative splicing: Investigation on abnormal splicing of the genes coding proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyloid precursor protein, α-synuclein, huntingtin, TDP-43, SCA, etc.
5. RNA metabolism: Applying RNA biosensors to monitor the dynamics of RNA, and/or decipher the underlying mechanism of RNA degeneration involved in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
6. RNA-based therapeutic approaches, including small interfering RNA (siRNA), Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics, small molecule modulators of RNA, RNA editing with CRISPR/Cas13, and exosome-mediated RNA delivery, which could offer promising avenues for the development of novel therapeutic methods for neurodegenerative disorders.

Neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, non-coding RNA, RNA-binding protein, RNA methylation, RNA metabolism, alternative splicing, RNA-based therapeutic approach

22 Jul 2025