New Study Reveals RNA Shape-Shifting in Human and Bacterial Cells

A new study led by University of Groningen molecular biologist Danny Incarnato and postdoctoral researcher Dr Ivana Borovska has identified hundreds of regulatory RNA switches in E.coli bacteria and human cells. These RNA switches allow the same molecule to switch between different structures, affecting the ability of ribosomes to bind and translate RNA into proteins. The research, published in Nature Biotechnology, highlights the complexity of RNA structures and the potential for developing new treatments for diseases by modulating these switches.

Incarnato's team developed a method to map alternative RNA shapes in living cells, revealing regions capable of shapeshifting between different structures. They also created a tool to accurately identify functional RNA switches, uncovering numerous switches including one that responds to temperature changes in bacteria. The study, which took over three years to complete, represents a significant advancement in understanding RNA structures and their regulatory mechanisms.

This research, building on years of fundamental work in detecting 2D RNA shapes, opens up possibilities for influencing RNA functioning through small molecules. Incarnato emphasizes the potential for developing new treatments by targeting these RNA switches, marking a groundbreaking achievement in the field of RNA research.