Researchers identify novel RNA linked to cancer patient survival

The discovery may drive cancer patient survival.

2026-02-02

(Press-News.org) In a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) identify a novel RNA molecule that plays a crucial role in preserving the integrity of a key cellular structure, nucleolus (a dense region of the cell containing a subset of crucial genetic material). Their findings also suggest this molecule may influence patient survival in certain blood cancers.

A surprising discovery inside a familiar gene RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a short-lived molecule copied from DNA that enables cells to use genetic information. Specific DNA sequences are copied into RNA, which then delivers these instructions to the cellular machinery responsible for making proteins. Through this process, RNA acts as the go-between, translating DNA’s blueprints into real-time cellular activity.

This research reveals an RNA molecule that regulates key cellular functions without turning into protein, thus functioning as a “non-coding” RNA.

The laboratory of Dr. Irtisha Singh at the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine identified a novel non-coding RNA they named CUL1-IPA that originates from the well-characterized CUL1 protein-coding gene. Unlike the canonical RNA that produces the CUL1 protein, this newly discovered RNA stays in the nucleus. Instead, it performs a completely different cellular function, supporting the structural integrity and activity of the nucleolus, the essential center for ribosome production.

“This finding redefines the conventional assumption that protein-coding genes produce only protein-related messages,” said Singh, senior author of the study.

When researchers removed CUL1-IPA from living cells, they observed dramatic effects: The nucleolus (a dense region of the cell containing subset of crucial genetic material) broke apart, and the cells displayed signs of stress.

“We were amazed at how essential this RNA turned out to be,” said Dr. Sumana Mallick, co-first author of the study. “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.”

A link to cancer patient outcomes This discovery goes beyond basic biology. The Singh Lab analyzed patient data from two types of blood cancers: multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. They found that patients with more severe forms of these cancers had higher levels of CUL1-IPA, regardless of how much of the traditional CUL1 RNA was present.

“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 of the article.

Because cancer cells depend on robust ribosome production for rapid growth, regulatory RNAs that support nucleolar function may inadvertently aid tumor progression, making molecules like CUL1-IPA potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets.

Rethinking how genes work The discovery of CUL1-IPA adds to a growing body of evidence that genes are more versatile than once believed. A single gene can produce multiple RNA molecules, each with its own distinct function, some of which may play major roles in health and disease.

Molecules such as CUL1-IPA may ultimately be used as biomarkers to guide cancer treatment decisions, or even serve as targets for future therapies, opening the door to a whole new field of possible anti-cancer medications.

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and Texas A&M Health, along with additional internal funding that supports early-stage scientific discovery.

By Wesley Poon, Texas A&M Health

###

END

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Poverty intervention program in Bangladesh may reinforce gender gaps, study shows

2026-02-02

URBANA, Ill. – In Bangladesh, programs targeting ultra-poor, rural households can help families escape extreme poverty. However, the programs may have the unintended consequence of reinforcing gender gaps, a new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign finds. “We were interested in looking at whether such interventions influence parents’ expectations for their children’s education and occupation, which can promote social mobility. Because there are huge disparities between boys and girls in Bangladesh, we also wanted to see if it affected the gender gap,” said lead author Alejandro Montoya Castaño. He was a doctoral ...

Novel approach to a key biofuel production step captures an elusive energy source

2026-02-02

Plants grown for biofuel have the potential to power our travel industry, but an important fraction of their chemical power has remained stubbornly difficult to recover. New research from the DOE-funded Center for Advanced Biofuel and Bioproduct Innovation on the University of Illinois campus has demonstrated a way to preserve native lignin structure, a key component of plant matter for conversion to other valuable products, putting an improved pathway for biofuel and bioproduct production within reach. The ...

‘Ghost’ providers hinder access to health care for Medicaid patients

2026-02-02

Almost one-third of physicians who are enrolled in Medicaid don’t actually care for a single patient covered by Medicaid insurance, according to new research led by Oregon Health & Science University. The study, published today in the journal Health Affairs, sheds new light on a program that covers nearly 80 million Americans. Researchers also found that another third of health care providers enrolled in Medicaid see a high volume of patients — more than 150 annually — and may be overburdened. Combined, the findings paint a picture of a situation in which enrollment data alone may obscure the reality ...

Study suggests far fewer cervical cancer screenings are needed for HPV‑vaccinated women

2026-02-02

Embargoed for release until 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday 2 February 2026 Follow @Annalsofim on X, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, but also on ...

NUS CDE researchers develop new AI approach that keeps long-term climate simulations stable and accurate

2026-02-02

Hybrid climate modelling has emerged as an effective way to reduce the computational costs associated with cloud-resolving models while retaining their accuracy. The approach retains physics-based models to simulate large-scale atmospheric dynamics, while harnessing deep learning to emulate cloud and convection processes that are too small to be resolved directly. In practice, however, many hybrid AI-physics models are unreliable. When simulations extend over months or years, small errors can accumulate and cause the model to become unstable. In a new ...

UM School of Medicine launches clinical trial of investigative nasal spray medicine to prevent illnesses from respiratory viruses

2026-02-02

Last year, at least one million people in the U.S. were hospitalized for respiratory virus illnesses like the flu or COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many of these individuals were at higher risk of getting infections due to living or working around young children who contract more respiratory infections. A new clinical trial led by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) will test a new experimental intranasal ...

Research spotlight: Use of glucose-lowering SGLT2i drugs may help patients with gout and diabetes take fewer medications

2026-02-02

Natalie McCormick, PhD, of the Rheumatology and Allergy Clinical Epidemiology Research (RACER) Center within the Division of Rheumatology in the Mass General Brigham Department of Medicine, is the lead author of a paper published in Diabetes Care, “Gout-Related Medication Use After Initiating Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in Patients With Gout and Type 2 Diabetes: Population-Based Target Trial Emulation Studies.” Q: What challenges or unmet needs make this study important? Gout, a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid (urate) in the body, affects 5.1% ...

Genetic system makes worker cells more resilient producers of nanostructures for advanced sensing, therapeutics

2026-02-02

Gas vesicles are among the largest known protein nanostructures produced and assembled inside microbial cells. These hollow, air-filled cylindrical nanostructures found in certain aquatic microbes have drawn increasing interest from scientists due to their potential for practical applications, including as part of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools. However, producing gas vesicles is a hard ask for cells in the lab, hindering the development of applications. In a recent study published in Nature Communications, a team of researchers led by Rice University bioengineer George Lu reports the development of a new genetic regulatory system to improve cell viability during the production ...

New AI model can assist with early warning for coral bleaching risk

2026-02-02

MIAMI — Scientists have created an AI model that forecasts moderate heat stress — a major precursor to coral bleaching — at sites along Florida’s Coral Reef up to six weeks ahead, with predictions generally accurate within one week. The study presents a site-specific, explainable machine-learning framework to support coral scientists and restoration practitioners with local reef management and emergency response planning. “This model gives coral scientists and resource managers advance notice of whether heat stress is likely to occur in a season — and, more importantly, ...

Highly selective asymmetric 1,6-addition of aliphatic Grignard reagents to α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

2026-02-02

Scientists at Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) have successfully realized the highly selective asymmetric 1,6-addition of aliphatic Grignard reagents to α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. This new methodology employs an iron catalyst in combination with a chiral N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, which suppresses undesired side reactions and drives highly regio-, stereo-, and enantioselective alkyl migration. The achievement represents a major advance in organic synthesis, offering new opportunities for drug discovery, materials chemistry, and the fine-chemical sector. In organic chemistry, ...

Researchers identify novel RNA linked to cancer patient survival

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: