The hunt for a natural molecule that can release cellular energy
Researchers at The Ohio State University have identified a noncoding RNA molecule that may function as an ATPase, potentially offering a new way to regulate cellular energy. This discovery could lead to the development of therapeutic nanoparticles for treating diseases like cancer.
Why it matters
Identifying noncoding RNA with enzymatic activity challenges traditional biological models and opens new pathways for targeted drug delivery.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Graphical abstract. Credit: Non-coding RNA Research (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2026.03.005 All cells in the human body—and the motions they enable, from our beating hearts to our wiggling toes—use energy generated by a molecule called ATP. Its energy is thought to be released to fuel cellular processes in only one way: when ATP's decomposition is initiated by an enzyme, a specific type of protein.
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