Ribonucleic Acid News and Research

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Scientists uncover new mechanism initiating gene transcription

Scientists at IOCB Prague are uncovering new details of gene transcription. They have identified a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which the transcription of genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into ribonucleic acid (RNA) can be initiated.

30 Jan 2026

Purdue researchers discover new therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer

A Purdue University team led by Kyle Cottrell has discovered a new therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer.

27 Jan 2026

Ageing slows brain protein clearance and shifts synaptic waste to microglia

Ageing slows neuronal protein degradation in mice, leading to widespread accumulation and aggregation of long-lived proteins, particularly at synapses. As neuronal clearance declines, microglia selectively accumulate synaptic proteins, suggesting a compensatory but potentially strained proteostasis pathway in the ageing brain.

22 Jan 2026

CRISPR-Cas3: A safer gene-editing tool shows promise for transthyretin amyloidosis treatment

Genetic disorders occur due to alterations in the primary genetic material, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), of an organism. Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a progressive disorder involving amyloid deposits of misfolded transthyretin (TTR) proteins.

14 Jan 2026

Dietary protein reshapes how cholera bacteria colonize the gut

Researchers investigate the role of dietary components and the gut microbiota in cholera.

13 Jan 2026

Gut bacteria patterns differ in autism and siblings and link to social symptoms

This sibling-controlled East Asian study found that autistic individuals, their unaffected siblings, and typically developing controls differ in gut microbiota diversity and composition, with the clearest separation between autism and typical development. Specific taxa, particularly the butyrate-producing genus Anaerostipes, were modestly associated with social communication and internalising symptoms, supporting a gut–behaviour link without implying causality.

15 Dec 2025

New findings show why the human intestine uniquely presents gluten to T cells

Human intestinal M cells function as dendritic cell-like antigen-presenting cells, displaying constitutive MHC-II activity and specialized machinery for processing gluten. Their ability to deamidate and present gliadin peptides positions them as key initiators of immune responses relevant to coeliac disease.

11 Dec 2025

Supportive marriages may shape appetite control through oxytocin and the brain–gut axis

Supportive marital relationships are associated with lower BMI, fewer food addiction symptoms, higher oxytocin, stronger frontal brain responses to food cues, and favorable gut tryptophan metabolites. These coordinated social, neural, hormonal, and gut pathways suggest a plausible biological link between emotional support and healthier eating regulation.

8 Dec 2025

Lubiprostone shows signs of slowing kidney function decline in chronic kidney disease

In adults with stage IIIb–IV chronic kidney disease, the constipation drug lubiprostone did not reduce gut-derived uremic toxins but preserved creatinine-based kidney function over 24 weeks. The benefit was linked to microbiome remodeling, increased polyamine production, and improved mitochondrial function rather than toxin lowering.

8 Dec 2025

Human researchers still outperform AI when it comes to writing trustworthy systematic reviews

Human researchers outperformed large language models across all major stages of systematic review preparation, particularly in study selection, synthesis, and final manuscript drafting. While LLMs demonstrated speed and partial accuracy in early screening and data extraction, they could not independently produce high-quality, guideline-compliant systematic reviews.

7 Dec 2025

Tattoo ink alters immune cells and weakens some vaccine responses

New research shows tattoo pigments migrate to lymph nodes, causing inflammation and altering immune responses to vaccines, with potential health risks.

27 Nov 2025

Study finds GLP-1 drugs improve strength and reverse aging biology in mice

Researchers showed that GLP-1 receptor agonism counteracts aging across multiple organs in mice, improving strength and reversing molecular aging signatures without meaningful effects on body weight. These benefits depended largely on hypothalamic GLP-1R signaling and closely mirrored the anti-aging patterns produced by rapamycin.

23 Nov 2025

Scientists reveal how prolonged UV exposure weakens cellular defense against skin cancer

Sunlight is vital for human health as it helps the body produce essential nutrients, such as vitamin D. However, too much sun exposure can significantly increase the risk of skin cancer.

13 Nov 2025

Switching APOE4 to APOE2 in adult mice reduces Alzheimer’s pathology and improves memory

Replacing APOE4 with APOE2 in adult mice rapidly reshapes brain lipids and gene expression, even after development is complete. This switch, especially when targeted to astrocytes, reduces amyloid burden, dampens gliosis, and improves associative memory despite E2-like peripheral lipid risks.

12 Nov 2025

Drinking orange juice daily may fine-tune genes tied to cardiovascular wellness

Regular orange juice consumption reprograms immune-cell gene activity linked to blood pressure, lipid metabolism, and inflammation in healthy adults. The molecular effects differ by body weight, suggesting BMI-tailored benefits from this everyday beverage.

9 Nov 2025

Alzheimer’s breakthrough reveals how tweaking one gene shields brain connections

Lowering the transcription factor PU.1 reprograms microglia into a neuroprotective, lymphoid-like state that compacts amyloid, blocks tau spread, and preserves synapses in Alzheimer’s disease. Microglial CD28 signaling helps restrain inflammation, revealing a regulatory switch that may inform future immunotherapies targeting microglia rather than neurons.

6 Nov 2025

Study reveals how "P bodies" heavily influence a cell's fate

How do stem cells know what to become? Nearly three decades after scientists isolated the first human embryonic stem cells, researchers are still working hard to understand precisely how a single, undifferentiated cell can become any one of the roughly 200 cell types that make up the human body.

4 Nov 2025

Lack of essential amino acid prompts animals to seek out protein-rich yeast and gut bacteria

New research from the Champalimaud Foundation (CF) reveals how missing just one essential amino acid can change gene expression and the brain's sensory systems, prompting animals to seek out protein-rich yeast and gut bacteria that help them restore nutritional balance and survive in times of need.

27 Oct 2025

Study explains how genetics and lifestyle combined to keep a 117-year-old healthy

Scientists conducted a multiomics study of the world’s oldest verified person (117 years), uncovering protective genetic, immune, metabolic, microbiome, and epigenetic traits that supported her exceptional longevity. These findings highlight how aging and disease may, under rare circumstances, be decoupled.

25 Sep 2025

Scientists uncover 53 genetic clues that shape math ability beyond IQ

Researchers uncovered 53 genetic loci linked to quantitative ability, distinguishing it from general intelligence and non-cognitive skills. The study highlights brain pathways in axon guidance, synaptic signaling, and mRNA splicing as biological underpinnings of math-related ability.

22 Sep 2025