Too much RNA can starve cells of energy

Scientists have uncovered an unexpected danger lurking inside cells: too much RNA can damage the structures responsible for producing energy. A new study found that excess RNA, including the normally essential messenger RNA (mRNA), can directly disrupt mitochondria without relying on the immune system. The discovery could help explain how viral infections and certain aging-related diseases damage cells.

Too much RNA can starve cells of energy, scientists discover. When too much RNA accumulates inside a cell, it can damage the structures that produce energy, potentially leaving the cell struggling to function normally. A new study led by researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) found that excess RNA produced during poxvirus infections can impair mitochondria, the tiny structures responsible for generating most of the energy cells need to survive.

Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research reveals an unexpected connection between RNA buildup and cellular energy production. The findings could have implications far beyond viral infections, potentially helping scientists better understand aging-related diseases and improve RNA-based medical treatments, including mRNA vaccines. "Scientists have long known that RNA degradation helps control protein production and remove defective RNA," said Dr.