Excess RNA Can Disrupt Cellular Energy Production
Researchers have identified an unexpected cellular risk: too much RNA can interfere with the structures responsible for producing energy.
The study found that excess RNA, including normally essential messenger RNA (mRNA), can directly disrupt mitochondria. This damage does not require an immune-system response, indicating that elevated RNA can affect cellular function through a more direct mechanism.
Mitochondria are the structures responsible for producing much of the energy cells need. Their disruption could therefore impair normal cellular operation. The researchers suggest that the finding may help explain how viral infections and certain aging-related diseases lead to cellular damage, although the study does not establish the full range of biological mechanisms involved.