Studying RNA Interactors of Protein Kinase RNA-Activated during the Mammalian Cell Cycle

This protocol provides a method to identify RNA interactors of an RNA binding protein PKR in a genome-wide manner. It helps us to better understand post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by RNA binding protein. The main advantage of this technique is that it utilizes efficient crosslinking of formaldehyde to fix RNase bound to RNA-binding proteins and enrich them through immunoprecipitation.

Activated PKR is observed in patients with neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Identifying PKR-interacting double-stranded RNase will help us to better understand the pathogenesis of these degenerative diseases. This method can be used to study RNA interactors of any RNA-binding proteins.