中国博后一作Nature论文：揭示细胞表面的糖基化RNA调控血管发育的全新作用

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of glycoRNA, a type of RNA that can be glycosylated, opens new avenues for understanding diseases and developing therapies, particularly in the context of immune recognition and cell communication [2][4]. Group 1: Research Findings - GlycoRNA is enriched on the cell surface and plays a crucial role in immune recognition and cell communication, potentially leading to new therapeutic directions [4]. - A recent study published in Nature reveals that glycoRNA complexes with heparan sulfate regulate VEGF-A signaling, highlighting a new role for glycoRNA in vascular development [5][10]. - The research team found that the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate, especially its 6-O-sulfation modification, is essential for the formation of clustered structures involving glycoRNA and cell surface RNA-binding proteins [12]. Group 2: Mechanisms and Implications - The study demonstrates that the clustered structure formed by glycoRNA and cell surface RNA-binding proteins can antagonize the activation of the ERK signaling pathway mediated by heparan sulfate [12]. - It was shown that the heparan sulfate binding domain of VEGF-A is responsible for RNA binding, and disrupting this interaction enhances ERK signaling, impairing vascular development in both in vitro and in vivo experiments [12]. - These findings suggest that the heparan binding region in protein structures can also serve as a key site for RNA binding, providing new insights into the identification of non-classical RNA-binding proteins [13].