Web database about RNA structures called RNA G-Quarduplexes and their interaction with RNA binding proteins

RNA G-quadruplexes (RG4s) are non-canonical, disease-associated post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression whose functions are driven by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Being able to explore transcriptome-wide RG4 formation and interaction with RBPs is thus paramount to understanding how they are regulated and exploiting them as potential therapeutic targets. Towards this goal, we present QUADRatlas (https://rg4db.cibio.unitn.it), a database of experimentally-derived and computationally predicted RG4s in the human transcriptome, enriched with biological function and disease associations. As RBPs are key to their function, we mined known interactions of RG4s with such proteins, complemented with an extensive RBP binding sites dataset. Users can thus intersect RG4s with their potential regulators and effectors, enabling the formulation of novel hypotheses on RG4 regulation, function and pathogenicity. To support this capability, we provide analysis tools for predicting whether an RBP can bind RG4s, RG4 enrichment in a gene set, and de novo RG4 prediction. Genome-browser and table views allow exploring, filtering, and downloading the data quickly for individual genes and in batch.

QUADRatlas is a significant step forward in our ability to understand the biology of RG4s, offering unmatched data content and enabling the integrated analysis of RG4s and their interactions with RBPs. This tool will provide a new way to discover further research targets.

Collaborations and acknowledgements

Sebastien Bourdon. was supported by MENRT; P.H. by ANR [ANR-17-CE12-0017-01]; Léïla Dumas by MENRT and FRM [FDT202106012862]; Erik Dassi was supported by the institutional support funds of the University of Trento. Funding for open access charge: University of Trento.