The role of structure–function studies in understanding RNA regulation

RNA regulation operates via networks of protein and RNA interactions that modulate gene expression in time and space. Structure-function studies, which directly connect a molecular framework with functional output, provide a powerful foundation for understanding how multiple protein-RNA interactions interface within a multi-component complex. Here, we discuss recent work that exemplifies the logic and workflow of these studies in a variety of systems. Together, this work highlights the central role played by the structural insight obtained and details the power of mechanistic models to integrate different types of functional and biophysical data across RNA biology.