Glucose binds and modulates the function of RNA helicases in epidermal differentiation

Summary: Abstract Body: RNA helicases are pivotal enzymes that regulate RNA structure and function, contributing to processes such as transcription, splicing, and translation. In this study, we uncover a novel role for glucose as a direct modulator of RNA helicase activity in epidermal differentiation. Using biochemical and biophysical approaches, we show that glucose binds to specific DEAD-box RNA helicases, altering their ATPase activity and regulating their functions. Functional studies in epidermal keratinocytes demonstrate that glucose-regulated RNA helicases is essential for proper splicing and stability of differentiation-specific genes. Our findings establish glucose as a critical metabolic regulator of RNA helicases, linking cellular energy status to RNA processing and epidermal differentiation. This study provides new insights into the interplay between metabolism and gene regulation in tissue development and homeostasis. Weili Miao¹, Douglas Porter¹, Vanessa Lopez-Pajares¹, Paul Khavari¹ 1. Dermatology, Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, US, academic, Stanford, CA, United States. Translational Studies: Cell and Molecular Biology