Scientists have uncovered a surprising way that viruses can interfere with the body's cells. 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.
Zhilong Yang, a professor in VMBS' Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. "Our study reveals another important role: it helps cells maintain the energy they need to function properly." Cells constantly produce and break down RNA as part of their normal activities. This cleanup process, known as RNA degradation, helps regulate protein production, eliminate faulty RNA, and control immune responses.
The new findings suggest it also performs another essential function by protecting the cell's energy supply. RNA plays several important roles in keeping cells functioning. Messenger RNA (mRNA), for example, carries genetic instructions that tell cells which proteins to produce.
These proteins are needed for nearly everything cells do, from maintaining their structure to carrying out essential chemical reactions. Another type, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), frequently appears during viral infections. Its presence can serve as a warning signal, alerting the immune system that a virus may have entered the cell.
Viruses often generate large quantities of RNA as they reproduce inside infected cells. Ordinarily, cellular cleanup systems help prevent RNA from accumulating to harmful levels. However, when RNA production exceeds the cell's ability to break it down, the excess material can interfere with mitochondria and reduce energy production.
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