Transfer RNA News and Research

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Scientists uncover tRNA changes driving Chagas parasite transformation

The Chagas disease parasite (Trypanosoma cruzi) undergoes a major transformation throughout its life cycle in order to infect humans and other mammals.

21 Aug 2026

New gene target offers hope for fatal infant cardiomyopathy

Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC have made an important advance toward understanding-and potentially treating-a rare cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease) that is present from birth.

20 Apr 2026

Harnessing AI to optimize the development of new protein manufacturing processes

Industrial yeasts are a powerhouse of protein production, used to manufacture vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, and other useful compounds.

17 Feb 2026

Sperm RNA aging shift that may explain paternal age effects

Study reveals an 'aging cliff' in sperm RNA, linking age-related changes to early development and highlighting risks associated with advanced paternal age.

22 Jan 2026

Urine-based microRNA clock predicts biological aging without a blood test

Researchers developed and validated a non-invasive urinary microRNA aging clock using extracellular vesicle miRNAs from more than 6,000 adults. The model predicts age with about 4 to 5 years error and links accelerated aging signals to type 2 diabetes.

16 Dec 2025

Dipeptides reveal clues to the origin of life’s instructions

Genes are the building blocks of life, and the genetic code provides the instructions for the complex processes that make organisms function.

17 Sep 2025

Researchers solve longstanding mystery of protein release in cells

It's known as biology's central dogma: All living organisms' genetic information is stored in DNA, which is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into proteins that perform nearly all essential tasks in a cell.

5 Aug 2025

Study sheds light on molecular mechanisms of brain aging

Aging and neurodegeneration are both known to disrupt the production of functional proteins in cells – a process called "proteostasis," or protein homeostasis.

31 Jul 2025

Smallest known protein-based enzyme HARP reveals dual role in tRNA processing

To build proteins, cells rely on a molecule called transfer RNA, or tRNA. tRNAs act like protein-building couriers, where they read the genetic instructions from messenger RNA, mRNA, and deliver the right amino acids to ribosomes, the cell's protein-making factories.

7 Jul 2025

Targeting RAP proteins for next-generation malaria treatments

A University of California, Riverside-led team has made an advance in the basic understanding of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the deadliest form of human malaria, that could make novel, highly targeted anti-malarial therapies possible.

1 Jul 2025

Transfer RNA-derived small RNAs transform the landscape of liquid biopsy

A new review highlights the transformative potential of transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) in the field of liquid biopsy, emphasizing their role as promising biomarkers for a wide range of diseases, particularly cancers.

20 Jun 2025

Neurons use RNA fragments to fight back against botox damage

Scientists have discovered that neurons exposed to Botox (botulinum toxin A) don't just survive—they fight back.

18 Jun 2025

Redefining cardiovascular medicine through the lens of sncRNAs

In a transformative review, small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators in the complex landscape of cardiovascular diseases.

20 Apr 2025

Small peptides play big role in halting bacterial translation

Proteins form the structural and functional backbone of the cell, and any perturbation in their synthesis can disrupt normal cellular functions.

18 Apr 2025

Study unveils genetic pathway leading to cleft lip and palate formation

Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth defects, occurring in about one in 1,050 births in the United States.

17 Apr 2025

Blood test detects Parkinson’s years before symptoms appear using RNA markers

A new study identifies a blood-based biomarker that detects pre-symptomatic Parkinson’s disease by measuring the ratio of specific nuclear and mitochondrial transfer RNA fragments. The test outperforms standard clinical tools and may also reflect disease mechanisms related to impaired protein synthesis.

14 Apr 2025

Scientists discover functional role of introns in cells

Scientists have discovered that some tiny segments of RNA thought to be junk instead have a functional role in suppressing production of certain messenger RNAs and appear to help cells respond to oxidative stress.

11 Feb 2025

RNA enzyme found key to heart cell energy shift after birth

Researchers investigate the influence of Mettl1 on energy metabolism and the maturation of heart cells after birth.

29 Nov 2024

New insights into modified nucleoside synthesis

The genetic information on DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) and translated to the amino acid sequence by transfer RNA (tRNA) on the ribosome. Modified nucleosides within RNA are involved in maintaining and regulating the protein synthesis system.

19 Jul 2024

Study sheds light on the crucial role of glutamate tRNA fragments in brain aging and Alzheimer's disease

A significant research paper published in the journal Cell Metabolism by the team of Prof. LIU Qiang at the University of Science and Technology of China reveals the critical role of glutamate tRNA fragments in brain aging and Alzheimer's disease.

14 May 2024