{
  "abstract": "Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is a glycolytic enzyme that coordinates energy production with biosynthetic demands in physiologically proliferating and cancer cells. PKM2 has also emerged as a non-canonical RNA-binding protein. Here, we combine targeted PKM2 mutagenesis with RNA-protein interaction assays, biochemical and biophysical analyses to define how RNA binding relates to PKM2 allosteric control and oligomeric state. We show that the allosteric activator fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) strongly reduces PKM2 binding to RNA. Mutants with impaired oligomerization show reduced RNA binding, and RNA association is favored by the tetrameric state. A positively charged surface patch in the FBP-binding region is essential for RNA binding and displays emergent properties. Single-residue variants further link RNA association to FBP-responsive tetrameric conformations. Our data integrate RNA binding with PKM2 allosteric regulation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "EMBL Heidelberg"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "P. Sommerkamp"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Schillinger"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. Lapouge"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Biancolella"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Ferring-Appel"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "M. W. Hentze"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gegccby964zc.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.22.753476",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.753476v1.full",
  "id": "4gegccby964zc",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.753476v1",
  "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",
      "1306|Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214071688",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.753476v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-22",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gegccby964zc.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:24:07Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.22.753476",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.753476v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "biorxiv:molecular biology",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The cancer-promoting enzyme PKM2 binds RNA via a positively charged regulatory patch",
  "title_text": "The cancer-promoting enzyme PKM2 binds RNA via a positively charged regulatory patch",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:24:07Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gegccby964zc",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}