Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for identifying and/or characterizing a compound suitable for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease. The invention is based on the finding that the glycolytic enzyme Enolase 1 (ENO1) binds RNA, and its enzymatic activity is thereby regulated. The invention is further based on the finding that riboregulation of ENO1 affects cell differentiation, which plays a pivotal role in cancer. Accordingly, the invention provides a screening method for novel therapeutic compounds based on the binding of RNA to ENO1. Compounds screened according to the present invention can affect the binding of RNA to ENO1, which harbors the therapeutic potential for the treatment of diseases, in particular proliferative diseases, such as cancer. Methods of treatment using these compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the finding that vault RNAs (vtRNA) associate with p62, an important factor of cellular autophagy. The invention provides the modulation of the binding of vtRNA to p62 as a novel strategy to influence autophagic flux in cells. Thus, the present invention provides inhibitors of vtRNA for use in the treatment of diseases associated with a pathological reduced or insufficient autophagy in cells, such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Further provided are methods for screening novel therapeutic compounds modulating autophagy via the p62/vtRNA axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of detecting RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in cells, tissues or organisms, comprising the use of oligonucleotides comprising locked nucleic acid (LNA)-nucleotide analogues in the sequence thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the finding that vault RNAs (vtRNA) associate with p62, an important factor of cellular autophagy. The invention provides the modulation of the binding of vtRNA to p62 as a novel strategy to influence autophagic flux in cells. Thus, the present invention provides inhibitors of vtRNA for use in the treatment of diseases associated with a pathological reduced or insufficient autophagy in cells, such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Further provided are methods for screening novel therapeutic compounds modulating autophagy via the p62/vtRNA axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of isolation of compounds that bind specifically to RNA or that alter the affinity of known compounds for RNA. The method utilizes changes in the levels of a fluorescent marker protein expressed in the same cell as a putative RNA-binding compound to detect those compounds of interest.

Abstract: The present method relates to the translational activation of genes using the ribosome recruitment protein, eIF4G or an eIF4G-like protein. The invention relates to the translation of RNA molecules containing heterologous protein-binding sites, which RNA molecules encode one, two, three or more proteins. The invention provides products and methods for the identification of RNA-binding proteins. The invention further provides a system by which protein—protein interactions and inhibitors or enhancers of these interactions may be identified. Further, the invention provides products and methods to provide a cell with one or more therapeutic proteins. The invention provides products and methods for controlling the levels of translation of such proteins. The invention provides products and methods to control the translation and stoichiometry of multiple subunit proteins.