Biology

Single-molecule RNA mapping may reveal how shape shifts steer health and disease

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Researchers at A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore have developed a novel single-molecule method to map the structural conformations of individual RNA molecules. This technique allows scientists to observe how RNA shapes, which can vary even among identical sequences, influence gene regulation at a molecular level. The findings, published in Nature Methods, provide a more granular view of RNA behavior than previously achievable with bulk sequencing approaches.


Understanding how RNA structure affects gene regulation could open new avenues for diagnosing and treating diseases in which gene expression is dysregulated, including cancer and genetic disorders. This method may also improve the design of RNA-based therapeutics and molecular tools.


Researchers from A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore (A*STAR GIS) have developed a new method to study individual RNA molecules and reveal how their structures influence gene regulation, a fundamental process that affects how cells function in health and disease. Their work was published in Nature Methods.

Source: Single-molecule RNA mapping may reveal how shape shifts steer health and disease