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Engineered lipid nanoparticles reprogram immune metabolism for better mRNA vaccines

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania developed lipid nanoparticles that modify immune metabolism to strengthen mRNA vaccines and reduce common side effects. The new lipid boosts the metabolism of immune cells, providing energy for the body's defenses while dialing down inflammatory signals.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 17, 2026

First comprehensive sex-specific atlas of GLP-1 in the mouse brain reveals why blockbuster weight-loss drugs may work differently in females and males

Researchers mapped GLP-1 expression in 25 brain regions in each sex, uncovering striking differences in key circuits. The atlas reveals sex-biased expression in certain medullary nuclei, with higher Glp1 densities and numbers of Glp1-expressing neurons in females compared to males.

SourceGenomic Press·JournalBrain Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 10, 2026

Mining the dark transcriptome: University of Toronto Engineering researchers create the first potential drug molecules from long noncoding RNA

Researchers have synthesized long noncoding RNA molecules with anti-inflammatory properties, demonstrating a new paradigm in drug discovery. The team identified three lncRNA sequences that regulate inflammation and used them to create nanoparticles that reduced inflammation in human cell cultures and mice.

How faulty mRNA is destroyed

Researchers have identified a crucial mechanism behind nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), which removes faulty transcripts to prevent incomplete protein production. The study reveals that the SMG5 and SMG6 proteins interact directly, forming an endonuclease that cuts through RNA in a targeted manner.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2026

Study identifies aging-associated mitochondrial circular RNAs

A study profiles mitochondrial circular RNAs in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from young and old human cohorts, revealing that circMT-RNR2 levels are depleted in older cohorts and are involved in promoting the TCA cycle. Loss of GRSF1 reduces circMT-RNR2 levels, decreasing mitochondrial TCA intermediates and accelerating cellular ...

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeNews article·DateFeb 24, 2026

Ribosomes in pairs

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research discovered that stressed animal cells, including neurons, assemble inactive ribosomes into tightly linked pairs, known as disomes. This novel mechanism relies on a specific piece of ribosomal RNA called an expansion segment to form a precise RNA-RNA interaction.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateFeb 23, 2026

Nuclear speckles play a key role in the progression of viral infection

Research reveals that nuclear speckles are essential for processing and exporting viral messenger RNAs from the nucleus, highlighting their critical role in viral infections. The study suggests that understanding how viruses interact with host cells can lead to new ways to treat and prevent viral diseases.

SourceUniversity of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 16, 2026

Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription

Scientists have identified a previously unknown molecular mechanism for initiating gene transcription in cells under stress. Using cryogenic electron microscopy, they observed how dinucleoside polyphosphate molecules bind to RNA polymerase, enabling the formation of alternative caps that protect cellular RNA.

New clues to preventing stillbirth

Flinders University researchers discovered a biological process that could explain some stillbirths and pave the way for early detection. The study found that molecules called circular RNAs build up in the placenta too quickly during pregnancy, compromising its ability to nourish the baby.

SourceFlinders University·JournalHuman Genetics and Genomics Advances·TypeObservational study·DateDec 21, 2025

Opposing forces in cells could hold clues to treating disease

Researchers found that two proteins in the CCR4-NOT complex have opposing roles in controlling genetic messages, with one destabilizing and the other steadying mRNA. This balance is critical to gene regulation and understanding cellular differentiation, adaptation to environmental stimuli, and disease mechanisms.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateDec 16, 2025

University of Maryland School of Medicine names distinguished scientist and academic leader Gerald M. Wilson, PhD, as Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Gerald M. Wilson, PhD, joins UMSOM as Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, bringing expertise in RNA biochemistry and cancer mechanisms. He aims to strengthen departmental capabilities and foster collaboration to advance research, education, and service.

Multichannel 3D-printed bioactive scaffold combined with siRNA delivery for spinal cord injury recovery

Researchers developed an innovative treatment platform combining a multichannel 3D-printed bioactive scaffold with siRNA delivery for enhanced axon regeneration and improved motor function in spinal cord injury rats. The therapy addressed multiple pathological barriers, including insufficient intrinsic axonal regeneration, lack of dire...

SourceResearch·JournalResearch·TypeNews article·DateDec 8, 2025

Apriori Bio and A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs Announce strategic partnership to advance next generation influenza vaccines

The partnership aims to co-develop and evaluate next-generation self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines targeting seasonal and pandemic influenza. Apriori's Octavia platform will be combined with A*STAR IDL's saRNA delivery technology to develop improved H5 influenza vaccines that anticipate infection in humans.

How microbes control mammalian cell growth

Scientists discovered queuine and preQ1, produced by gut bacteria, regulate protein synthesis in human cells. These bacterial metabolites promote cell growth and halt it, respectively. The study suggests using diet or microbiome composition to balance cell growth in cancer and prevent autoimmune diseases.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateOct 29, 2025

UMass Amherst chemists develop tool providing unrivaled look inside cells

Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a new tool, iConRNA, that provides an unrivaled look inside cells and can help solve the mystery of how devastating diseases develop. The tool resolves the balance of physical driving forces of phase separation and predicts how this balance is tuned under different cellular situations.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2025

Researchers revolutionize RNA detection

Researchers developed a new diagnostic test, CAARRD, to detect ribonucleic acid (RNA) at room temperature, increasing sensitivity and reducing complexity. The test uses special 'anti-tag' CRISPR sequences to block the activity of the Cas13a enzyme, allowing for faster and more affordable detection of viral RNAs such as HIV.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 16, 2025

Safer, more effective vaccines with new mRNA vaccine technology

Researchers have developed a new mRNA vaccine technology using albumin-recruiting lipid nanoparticles to deliver vaccines precisely to lymph nodes, avoiding liver toxicity. The approach outperformed traditional delivery systems in laboratory tests, producing strong antitumor T-cell responses and high levels of neutralizing antibodies.

NUS Medicine researchers develop fat-like nanoparticles to treat fatty liver disease

Researchers developed a novel RNA-based therapy using lipid nanoparticles to silence a gene causing ceramide buildup in the liver, reducing inflammation and scarring. The treatment shows promise for millions of patients worldwide and could eventually benefit those with heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Simultaneous synthesis of all 21 types of tRNA in vitro

Scientists have created a novel method to synthesize all 21 types of transfer RNA (tRNA) simultaneously in a test tube using the tRNA array method. This breakthrough allows for precise control over protein synthesis and has significant implications for the development of artificial molecular systems with self-reproducing capabilities.

Cellular quality control in humans decoded

Researchers have developed a system to selectively switch off the key molecule of NMD, allowing them to observe its function in human cells with unprecedented precision. The study reveals that NMD not only prevents errors but also acts as an important regulator of gene activity.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalMolecular Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 11, 2025

Triggering RNA activation on demand

Researchers have devised a method to safely and temporarily 'switch off' and then 'turn on' ribonucleic acid (RNA) inside cells using disulfide-containing chemical groups. This strategy could potentially open new avenues in more precise RNA-based therapeutics and gene editing.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 10, 2025

SMART researchers develop first-of-its-kind RNA tool to advance cancer and infectious disease research and treatment

Researchers at SMART Alliance for Research and Technology developed a powerful tool to scan thousands of biological samples and detect transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) modifications, which help control cell growth and response to diseases. The tool opens up new possibilities for disease research, diagnostics, and treatment development.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2025

How proteins bind to RNA: the dual mechanism of zinc fingers and disordered regions

Researchers discovered that disordered regions enhance specific RNA interactions in FUS protein-RNA complexes, revealing a breakthrough strategy for nucleic acid binding. The study suggests that intrinsically disordered regions actively contribute to the RNA-binding mechanism.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalJournal of Chemical Information and Modeling·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 28, 2025

Long-standing mystery in molecular biology solved: Cells measure RNA tails with a molecular stopwatch

Cells use a stopwatch-like mechanism to measure the length of messenger RNA (mRNA) tails, achieving molecular accuracy in vital processes like gene expression. The discovery reveals that two proteins, CPAC and Nab2, set the tail's length by timing their interaction, with the final length determined by a race between their speeds.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalGenes & Development·DateAug 28, 2025

Promising new method could treat inherited diseases

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a novel method using modified M13 bacteria to deliver targeted gene therapies for genetic disorders. This approach shows promise as a cost-effective alternative to current methods, which can be expensive and trigger toxic side effects.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalMolecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 20, 2025