Add BrightSurf on Google Email

High levels of ADAR overexpression induce abundant and stochastic off-target RNA editing in rice protoplasts

High levels of ADARdd overexpression lead to abundant off-target RNA editing in rice protoplasts, characterized by pronounced stochasticity and low efficiency. The study provides guidelines for improving RNA editing accuracy in plants and highlights the need for rigorous validation of proximity-directed RNA editors.

Small nuclear RNA base editing a safer alternative to CRISPR, UC San Diego researchers find

Researchers at UC San Diego have created a new genetic editing approach that uses small nuclear RNA base editing, which can modify the genetic code with greater precision and safety than CRISPR. This method has the potential to treat various diseases, including neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and immune disorders.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateSep 18, 2025

Phage research: Hacked!

Researchers develop RNA-based molecular tool to interfere with phage replication, allowing for targeted therapy against bacterial pathogens. The approach has potential applications in treating infections caused by hospital germs like Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Infection Research·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 10, 2025

Modulation of antiviral response in fungi via RNA editing

A study by University of Fukui researchers reveals that two adjacent gene pairs in Neurospora crassa regulate antiviral response and symptom induction via RNA editing. The findings indicate that the modification of master transcription factor genes is crucial for controlling fungal antiviral responses.

SourceUniversity of Fukui·JournalCell Host & Microbe·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 23, 2025

Editing Parkinson's Disease – KAIST makes world's first discovery of an inflammatory RNA editing enzyme​

Researchers at KAIST have identified a key mechanism behind neuroinflammatory responses in Parkinson's disease, which is regulated by an RNA editing enzyme called ADAR1. This discovery suggests that targeting this enzyme could serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for treating the disease.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 2, 2025

Slow editing of protein blueprints leads to cell death

A team of researchers has identified a mechanism that interferes with the splicing process in a more subtle way, leading to cell death. The study reveals that spliceosome subunits U4, U5, and U6 are normally stabilized by protein USP39, but when mutated or absent, stability is compromised, causing incorrect connections during splicing.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 14, 2024

Mount Sinai study reveals significant differences in RNA editing between postmortem and living human brain

Researchers found major differences between postmortem and living prefrontal cortex brain tissues, with higher levels of RNA editing in postmortem tissues. These discoveries will shape the development of diagnostics and therapies for brain diseases, highlighting the need to study both living and postmortem samples.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 28, 2024

Plants restrict use of “Tipp-Ex proteins”

A University of Bonn study reveals that plants use special molecules called Tipp-Ex proteins to correct defective gene copies. However, these proteins are only permitted to work in chloroplasts and mitochondria, not in the cytosol where they could cause fatal miscorrections.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalThe Plant Journal·DateMay 17, 2024

A new coating method in mRNA engineering points the way to advanced therapies

Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University have developed a novel method for coating engineered messenger RNA molecules with polyethylene glycol (PEG), allowing selective delivery to the spleen. This breakthrough enables fine-tuned control over mRNA therapy, facilitating effective treatment of diseases previously considered inc...

SourceTokyo Medical and Dental University·JournalSmall Science·DateApr 10, 2024

A novel angle on type 1 diabetes: RNA editing disruption mimics early-stage disease with no involvement of virus

A recent study by the Hebrew University proposes a new etiology for early stages of type 1 diabetes, attributing it to disrupted RNA editing within pancreatic beta cells. This perspective challenges long-held beliefs about viral involvement, suggesting potential implications for treatments and cures.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 25, 2023

Individual neurons mix multiple RNA edits of key synapse protein, fly study finds

Researchers found that individual neurons can stochastically mix and match up to eight different editions of the Complexin 7A protein, leading to varying levels of glutamate release. This variation may endow each neuron with fine degrees of communication control, allowing for robust tuning of multiple features of neuronal output.

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 18, 2023

Breakthrough in combating multiple myeloma: For the 1st time in the world researchers destroyed most cancer cells in the bone marrow using a targeted system containing RNA therapy

A breakthrough treatment targeting bone marrow cancer cells destroyed 90% of multiple myeloma cells in laboratory tests and 60% in human tissue samples. Researchers developed lipid-based nanoparticles containing RNA molecules that silence the CKAP5 gene, inhibiting cancer cell division.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 27, 2023

Octopuses rewire their brains to adapt to seasonal temperature shifts

Researchers found that two-spot octopuses produce different neural proteins under warm versus cool conditions by editing their RNA. This rewiring likely protects their brains and may be used widely amongst octopuses and squid. Temperature-sensitive RNA editing occurs rapidly, with significant changes occurring within days.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 8, 2023

DART VADAR harnesses the force of enzymes for better RNA drugs

Researchers at Harvard University developed a novel RNA sense-and-respond circuit, DART VADAR, which utilizes an enzyme to detect specific molecular markers of disease and cell types. This enables highly specific treatments for various diseases by triggering the translation of therapeutic genetic payloads.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 20, 2023

Sites in the brain where RNA is edited could help to better understand neurodevelopment and disease, researchers have found

Mount Sinai researchers catalogued thousands of sites in the brain where RNA is modified throughout the human lifespan, increasing with age. This study provides a model depicting how A-to-I editing evolves over a lifetime, shedding light on its role in health and disease.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalCell Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 1, 2022

Moss repair team also works in humans

A team of researchers has successfully transplanted the RNA editing machinery from a moss into human cells, including kidney and cancer cells. The corrected mechanism was found to work on over 900 targets in nuclear transcripts, offering a potential basis for inducing specific changes in human cells and treating hereditary diseases.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 19, 2022

Plants are also stressed out

Researchers discover GUN1 plays a crucial role in regulating chloroplast-to-nucleus communication, enabling plants to respond to stress. This finding may help breed plants that can better withstand environmental stressors and maintain food production.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 19, 2019

Cell editors correct genetic errors

Scientists have successfully transferred a key part of the plant's RNA editing mechanism into a bacterium, confirming a long-held theory about its functioning. This breakthrough improves our understanding of this widespread mechanism and opens up new avenues for research.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCommunications Biology·DateMar 1, 2019

Largest, most accurate list of RNA editing sites

The researchers validated 1,799 sites and predicted an additional 1,782 sites, resulting in a combined list of 3,581 accurate sites. The team gained insights into the model organism's fundamental biology, including patterns of editing and alternative splicing.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateSep 29, 2013

Fly study finds 2 new drivers of RNA editing

Researchers found two new mechanisms governing RNA editing in a key neurodevelopmental gene in living fruit flies. The mechanisms involve newly discovered sequences and structures far away from the editing sites, which can be controlled like a tuning knob to increase or decrease editing.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 1, 2013

Locked down, RNA editing yields odd fly behavior

Brown University researchers found that RNA editing enzyme activity varies with temperature, affecting fly behavior in mating and daily routines. High or low self-editing levels can create different personalities, such as wallflowers or pick-up artists, highlighting the significance of this process in animal behavior.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 24, 2012