G. Varani

Drug-like small molecules that inhibit expression of the oncogenic microRNA-21

This study identifies small molecules that inhibit miR-21 maturation, showing specific anti-proliferative effects in cancer cells without affecting kinases or receptors.

Structure of the Dengue Virus RNA Promoter

The paper determines the NMR structure of the Dengue virus RNA promoter SLA, revealing its conserved L-shape and potential role in viral replication.

The kinase inhibitor Palbociclib is a potent and specific RNA-binding molecule

The paper identifies Palbociclib as an RNA-binding molecule with nM affinity for HIV-1 TAR RNA, demonstrating that RNA-targeting drugs can achieve potent and specific binding.

Two distinct binding modes provide the RNA binding protein RbFox with extraordinary sequence specificity

This study identifies two distinct binding modes of RbFox's RNA Recognition Motif that contribute to its high sequence specificity and functional diversity.

A slow dynamic switch regulates processing of microRNA-21

The paper identifies a slow conformational switch in pre-miR-21 that regulates its processing efficiency and shows how ligands can modulate this switch.

A functional SNP regulates E-cadherin expression by dynamically remodeling the 3D structure of a promoter-associated non-coding RNA transcript

Primordial emergence of a nucleic acid binding protein via phase separation and statistical ornithine to arginine conversion

This study demonstrates a transition from phase-separating polypeptides to dsDNA-binding proteins through statistical ornithine-to-arginine conversion and sequence duplication.