{
  "abstract": "RNAs are increasingly recognized as direct regulators of protein function, yet whether RNA can control the activation of signaling kinases remains poorly understood. Here we identify RNA as a direct regulator of BRAF, a central kinase in the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK (MAPK) pathway. Using complementary crosslinking and RNA-protein interaction approaches, we show that BRAF directly binds RNA in cells and that this interaction is enhanced upon MAPK pathway activation. Depletion of intracellular RNA reduces BRAF:CRAF complex assembly and impairs MEK1/2 phosphorylation, indicating that RNA contributes to RAF complex formation and MAPK signal transduction. We identify a positively charged surface within the BRAF kinase domain that mediates RNA binding. A separation-of-function RNA-binding mutant selectively attenuates BRAF-dependent MEK1/2 phosphorylation, demonstrating that RNA binding is required for efficient MAPK signaling. Moreover, artificial recruitment of the RNA-binding-deficient BRAF mutant to an RNA scaffold restores its signaling activity, supporting a direct role for RNA-mediated BRAF complex assembly. These data identify RNA as an active component of RAF kinase regulation and establish RNA-protein interactions as an additional determinant of MAPK pathway activation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Institut Curie, CNRS UMR3348, INSERM U1368, University Paris Saclay"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "A. Le Barch"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Mennour"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. Fabbri"
    },
    {
      "name": "T. Sen"
    },
    {
      "name": "I. Girault"
    },
    {
      "name": "V. Quidville"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Andreani"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. Guerois"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Robert"
    },
    {
      "name": "P. Uguen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "S. Vagner"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3tecqm3srd20r.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.10.22.760349",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.22.760349v1.full",
  "id": "3tecqm3srd20r",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.22.760349v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "molecular biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Protein Kinase Regulation and GTPase Signaling"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223350318",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.22.760349v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-22",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3tecqm3srd20r.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:29:18Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.10.22.760349",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.22.760349v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "biorxiv:molecular biology",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "RNA promotes MAPK signaling through direct interaction with BRAF",
  "title_text": "RNA promotes MAPK signaling through direct interaction with BRAF",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:29:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3tecqm3srd20r",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}