RNA molecules fold into complex structures that enable their diverse functions in cells. Recent revolutionary innovations in transcriptome-wide RNA structural probing of living cells have ushered in a new era in understanding RNA functions. Here, we summarize the latest technological advances for probing RNA secondary structures and discuss striking discoveries that have linked RNA regulation and biological processes through interrogation of RNA structures. In particular, we highlight how different long noncoding RNAs form into distinct secondary structures that determine their modes of interactions with protein partners to realize their unique functions. These dynamic structures mediate RNA regulatory functions through altering interactions with proteins and other RNAs. We also outline current methodological hurdles and speculate about future directions for development of the next generation of RNA structure-probing technologies of higher sensitivity and resolution, which could then be applied in increasingly physiologically relevant studies.

RNA 分子折叠成复杂的结构，使其能够在细胞中发挥多种功能。最近在活细胞转录组范围内的 RNA 结构探测方面的革命性创新开启了理解 RNA 功能的新时代。在这里，我们总结了探测 RNA 二级结构的最新技术进展，并讨论了通过询问 RNA 结构将 RNA 调控与生物过程联系起来的惊人发现。特别是，我们强调了不同的长链非编码 RNA 如何形成不同的二级结构，这些二级结构决定了它们与蛋白质伙伴相互作用的模式，以实现其独特的功能。这些动态结构通过改变与蛋白质和其他 RNA 的相互作用来调节 RNA 调节功能。