RNA
RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a class of nucleic acid molecules that participates in the flow of genetic information and in the regulation of cellular processes.
RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a class of nucleic acid molecules that participates in the flow of genetic information and in the regulation of cellular processes. Different RNA species can serve as templates for protein production, components of molecular machines, regulatory molecules, or signals detected by innate immune pathways. Its biological activity depends not only on nucleotide sequence but also on chemical modification, three-dimensional folding, subcellular localization, and interactions with proteins, lipids, and other nucleic acids.
RNA is also an important biomedical target and therapeutic material. Messenger RNA (mRNA) can be used to transiently express a protein, whereas small interfering RNA (siRNA) can reduce expression of a selected gene. RNA-based approaches are being investigated in fibrosis, cancer, genetic eye diseases, gene editing, and immunotherapy. Current research includes delivery with lipid nanoparticles and other transporters, stabilization through solid formulations, modulation of RNA sensing by MDA5 and RIG-I, targeting of modified transcripts such as m6A-containing mRNA, and the discovery of small molecules that bind structured RNA. Related work connects RNA with DNA, transcription, protein translation, CRISPR, RNA sequencing, lipid nanoparticles, reactive oxygen species, tumor microenvironment biology, and cancer.
Where the papers sit
19 papers from the last 6 months study RNA directly · updated from PubMed 2 Nov 2026
Study type 0 clinical trials · 4 human data · 13 preclinical · 2 unclassified
Themes one subject · 1 paradigm shift · 1 new direction
Those 19 are all about one subject.
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RNA Biology and Therapeutics
RNA research here spans liquid-biopsy diagnostics, sequencing, structure, modification and delivery. Disease studies link m6A and m7G regulation, lncRNA networks and mitochondrial RNA signaling to cancer, steatosis and fibrosis. Therapeutic work focuses on mRNA, siRNA and self-amplifying RNA delivered with lipid nanoparticles, transporters or engineered cells. The cluster shares a broad RNA-centered subject but shows no single field-wide direction.
RNA itself can be a proximal driver of cell state rather than merely a biomarker, cargo, or downstream regulatory intermediary
In chronic type II interferon-exposed tumors, mitochondrial double-stranded RNA released into the cytoplasm activated type I interferon signaling, increased prostaglandin E2 synthesis, promoted tumor growth, and caused anti-PD1 resistance 42721225Sep. In CRISPR-activated ribosomal-DNA transcription in neural stem cells, experimentally increasing rRNA directly enlarged nucleoli, enhanced protein synthesis, and promoted stem-cell self-renewal and proliferation 42391322Jul. Together, these independent systems show that RNA release or abundance can itself instruct pathogenic or developmental cell behavior, changing the interpretation of RNA from an observed correlate or controlled molecular intermediate to a causal state-regulating signal.
RNA can serve as the intracellular substrate of a bioorthogonal catalytic material
In metal-organic frameworks engineered for intracellular RNA manipulation, defined copper-containing pores recognized RNA and catalyzed its bond cleavage and formation without external reducing agents; an amine-functionalized framework also enabled controlled sgRNA activation for CRISPR/Cas9 editing 42338353Jun. This assigns RNA a role not otherwise represented in the set—as a chemically transformed substrate of a programmable inorganic catalyst—rather than as a diagnostic signal, regulatory molecule, therapeutic cargo, or delivery target.
Papers
The 19 papers from the last 6 months that study RNA directly, newest first, by theme and by study type. Study types come from PubMed publication types and MeSH headings.
By theme
RNA Biology and Therapeutics (19)
- Validation of next-generation sequencing-derived circulating mRNA variants as potential diagnostic tools in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Oncology reports · 18 Sept 2026 PMID 42757462
- Library strategies differentially shape microbial, functional, and host signals in clinical metagenomic sequencing. mSystems · 14 Sept 2026 PMID 42734361
- Beyond traditional biopsy: integrating liquid biopsy, molecular panels, and advanced imaging techniques in thyroid cancer management. Endokrynologia Polska · 11 Sept 2026 PMID 42725427
- Synergistic RNA therapy for scar reduction: co-delivery mRNA and siRNA attenuates MDA5/RIG-I activation to enhance anti-fibrotic efficacy. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 10 Sept 2026 PMID 42722164
- Chronic type II interferon promotes tumor growth through mitochondrial RNA-induced type I interferon and prostaglandin synthesis. Science (New York, N.Y.) · 10 Sept 2026 PMID 42721225
- IGF2BP3 enhances paclitaxel resistance in bladder urothelial carcinoma by recognizing m6A-modified CENPA mRNA. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) · 10 Sept 2026 PMID 42720822
- Spray Freeze Drying for Solid Formulations of RNA Lipid Nanoparticles. AAPS PharmSciTech · 10 Sept 2026 PMID 42717177
- Tumor Microenvironment-Triggered Nanocrystal-to-Nanocrystal Transformation for RNA-Boosted Photo-STING Therapy. Journal of the American Chemical Society · 9 Sept 2026 PMID 42714526
- The knotty problem of RNA structure prediction. Science (New York, N.Y.) · 27 Aug 2026 PMID 42658961
- Insights into longevity and virus-driven adaptation from Myotis bat genomes. Nature · 26 Aug 2026 PMID 42649300
- RNA delivery to the corneal endothelium using charge-altering releasable transporters. Science advances · 21 Aug 2026 PMID 42627922
- Engineered adipose-derived stem cells with self-amplifying RNA enhance vascular network formation in porous GelMA hydrogels. Biomaterials science · 14 Aug 2026 PMID 42599124
- Potential structure induced effects of the hairpin motif in RNA to form the phase separated droplet like associate in different solution condition. The Journal of chemical physics · 4 Aug 2026 PMID 42550103
- A prognostic immune signaling-related lncRNA-circRNA-mRNA network model for cervical cancer using machine learning. Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 27 Jul 2026 PMID 42508130
- Manipulation of protein translation and stem cell self-renewal by CRISPR activation of rRNA transcription. Science (New York, N.Y.) · 2 Jul 2026 PMID 42391322
- METTL1 promotes hepatic steatosis by mediating m7G modification of ALOX15B mRNA. Life sciences · 27 Jun 2026 PMID 42364691
- Metal-Organic Framework as a Bioorthogonal Catalyst for Gene Editing. Journal of the American Chemical Society · 24 Jun 2026 PMID 42338353
- 5'-tRFGly in serum is a specific tRNA-derived fragment biomarker for gastric cancer diagnosis. Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry · 23 May 2026 PMID 42176936
- ncRNA network pharmacology integrated with miRNA omics and experimental validation reveal the anti-autophagic effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction in traumatic brain injury. Journal of ethnopharmacology · 12 May 2026 PMID 42119634
By study type
Human data, design not indexed (4)
- Validation of next-generation sequencing-derived circulating mRNA variants as potential diagnostic tools in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Oncology reports · 18 Sept 2026 PMID 42757462
- Library strategies differentially shape microbial, functional, and host signals in clinical metagenomic sequencing. mSystems · 14 Sept 2026 PMID 42734361
- A prognostic immune signaling-related lncRNA-circRNA-mRNA network model for cervical cancer using machine learning. Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 27 Jul 2026 PMID 42508130
- 5'-tRFGly in serum is a specific tRNA-derived fragment biomarker for gastric cancer diagnosis. Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry · 23 May 2026 PMID 42176936
Preclinical: animal, cell and lab studies (13)
- Chronic type II interferon promotes tumor growth through mitochondrial RNA-induced type I interferon and prostaglandin synthesis. Science (New York, N.Y.) · 10 Sept 2026 PMID 42721225
- IGF2BP3 enhances paclitaxel resistance in bladder urothelial carcinoma by recognizing m6A-modified CENPA mRNA. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) · 10 Sept 2026 PMID 42720822
- Spray Freeze Drying for Solid Formulations of RNA Lipid Nanoparticles. AAPS PharmSciTech · 10 Sept 2026 PMID 42717177
- Tumor Microenvironment-Triggered Nanocrystal-to-Nanocrystal Transformation for RNA-Boosted Photo-STING Therapy. Journal of the American Chemical Society · 9 Sept 2026 PMID 42714526
- The knotty problem of RNA structure prediction. Science (New York, N.Y.) · 27 Aug 2026 PMID 42658961
- Insights into longevity and virus-driven adaptation from Myotis bat genomes. Nature · 26 Aug 2026 PMID 42649300
- RNA delivery to the corneal endothelium using charge-altering releasable transporters. Science advances · 21 Aug 2026 PMID 42627922
- Engineered adipose-derived stem cells with self-amplifying RNA enhance vascular network formation in porous GelMA hydrogels. Biomaterials science · 14 Aug 2026 PMID 42599124
- Potential structure induced effects of the hairpin motif in RNA to form the phase separated droplet like associate in different solution condition. The Journal of chemical physics · 4 Aug 2026 PMID 42550103
- Manipulation of protein translation and stem cell self-renewal by CRISPR activation of rRNA transcription. Science (New York, N.Y.) · 2 Jul 2026 PMID 42391322
- METTL1 promotes hepatic steatosis by mediating m7G modification of ALOX15B mRNA. Life sciences · 27 Jun 2026 PMID 42364691
- Metal-Organic Framework as a Bioorthogonal Catalyst for Gene Editing. Journal of the American Chemical Society · 24 Jun 2026 PMID 42338353
- ncRNA network pharmacology integrated with miRNA omics and experimental validation reveal the anti-autophagic effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction in traumatic brain injury. Journal of ethnopharmacology · 12 May 2026 PMID 42119634
Unclassified: not yet indexed with MeSH (2)
- Beyond traditional biopsy: integrating liquid biopsy, molecular panels, and advanced imaging techniques in thyroid cancer management. Endokrynologia Polska · 11 Sept 2026 PMID 42725427
- Synergistic RNA therapy for scar reduction: co-delivery mRNA and siRNA attenuates MDA5/RIG-I activation to enhance anti-fibrotic efficacy. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 10 Sept 2026 PMID 42722164
Written from 19 PubMed abstracts, each one listed by PMID above. Published: 2026-09-12. Last written: 2026-09-20 by GPT. Drafted by language models from published abstracts; not medical advice.