Researchers at Texas A&M University Health Science Center have identified a new RNA molecule that plays a significant role in maintaining the structure of the nucleolus, a part of the cell essential for ribosome production. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), also suggests this molecule could impact patient outcomes in certain blood cancers.
RNA molecules are known for transmitting genetic information from DNA to protein-making machinery in cells. However, this research focused on a "non-coding" RNA, meaning it does not create proteins but instead has regulatory functions.
The team led by Dr. Irtisha Singh at the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine discovered an RNA they named CUL1-IPA. This non-coding RNA is derived from the CUL1 gene but remains in the nucleus rather than being converted into protein. Instead, CUL1-IPA helps maintain nucleolar integrity and function.
"This finding redefines the conventional assumption that protein-coding genes produce only protein-related messages," said Singh.
Experiments showed that removing CUL1-IPA from cells caused disruption to the nucleolus and signs of cellular stress. Dr. Sumana Mallick, co-first author, stated, "We were amazed at how essential this RNA turned out to be. Removing it caused the nucleolus to lose its structural integrity, making it clear that non-coding RNAs from protein-coding genes can play central regulatory roles."
Further analysis connected CUL1-IPA with blood cancers such as multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Data indicated patients with higher levels of CUL1-IPA had more severe forms of these diseases.
"Its expression correlates with patient survival in blood cancers and may contribute to how aggressive these cancers become," said Dr. Pranita Borkar, co-first author.
The researchers suggest that because cancer cells rely on increased ribosome production for rapid growth, regulatory RNAs like CUL1-IPA might support tumor development and could serve as biomarkers or targets for treatment strategies.
This work highlights how one gene can generate several types of RNA molecules with different functions—some potentially critical in health and disease management. The findings point toward possible future uses for molecules like CUL1-IPA in guiding cancer therapy decisions or developing new treatments.
Funding for this research came from grants provided by the National Institutes of Health, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), Texas A&M Health, and internal sources supporting early scientific investigation.
