Scientists disprove mRNA theory

CLEVELAND, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have disproved a widely held theory that attempted to explain how cells recognize and destroy mutated messenger ribonucleic acid, or mRNA.

In all cells, mRNA is a copy of the information carried by a gene on the DNA. Cells can detect mRNA containing errors and eliminate the aberrant mRNA from the cell.

The mechanism by which cells recognize and destroy mutated mRNA is unknown, but one popular theory -- called "faux 3" -- was widely accepted among molecular biologists.

In the new research, Professor Kristian Baker of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland and Professor Ambro van Hoof of The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio proved the theory could not explain how cells recognize and destroy deviant mRNA.

The researchers said their finding will redirect efforts to understand how cells protect themselves from errors produced mutant mRNA. The research is also expected to lead to new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of genetic diseases.

The study appears in the journal Molecular Cell.