{"id":1743,"date":"2026-09-03T06:03:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T21:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/briefing\/2026-09-03-functional-chimeric-mrna-immunity-en\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T06:03:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T21:03:00","slug":"2026-09-03-functional-chimeric-mrna-immunity-en","status":"publish","type":"briefing","link":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/briefing\/2026-09-03-functional-chimeric-mrna-immunity-en\/","title":{"rendered":"RNA from distant genes made one protein… Hidden regulatory layer of immune response"},"content":{"rendered":"

2026-09-03 06:03 KST<\/strong><\/p>\n

Researchers at Harvard Medical School presented evidence using mouse immune cells and animal experiments that RNA fragments from genes on different chromosomes are accurately connected and that this chimeric mRNA produces proteins that function in inflammatory responses. The study was published September 2 in Nature.<\/p>\n

The functions of thousands of new proteins in humans have not already been confirmed or new treatments have been discovered. A representative example where research has deeply verified its function is the Gsdmd\u2013Tmem106a complex in mice, and its scope and disease-specific role in human cells remains to be further confirmed.<\/p>\n

What was different from the previous explanation?<\/h2>\n

Usually, we learn that one mature mRNA is made by joining the exons of one gene locus. In this study, transcripts of genes distantly related to each other, sometimes from different chromosomes, were joined by trans splicing. Unlike cancer gene fusions, which are fusions of the DNA itself, these are combinations that occur at the RNA level during a normal inflammatory response.<\/p>\n

How to filter out fake binding signals<\/h2>\n

To avoid artificial fusions that may occur during cDNA synthesis, the researchers used nanopore sequencing to read RNA molecules directly. We obtained 52.9 million passthrough reads from 10 biological replicates in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages, and repeated candidates were confirmed using short reads, NanoString, PCR, protein analysis, and gene editing.<\/p>\n

This AI-generated image explains the topic; it is not a photograph of the actual event, observation, or experiment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What did the identified proteins do?<\/h2>\n

The protein created by combining Gsdmd and Tmem106a RNA took up residence in the cell membrane and accelerated the formation of inflammatory pores and the release of IL-1\u03b2. Mice with this conjugate removed were more resistant to fatal sepsis, but their bacterial defenses were weakened, and when they were made in large quantities, their defenses improved but the lethality of sepsis also increased. This means that the benefits and losses of immunity are adjusted together.<\/p>\n

How should the expression \u201cthousands\u201d be read?<\/h2>\n

The analysis pipeline detected 30,390 exon-exon chimeric RNAs for further investigation. But that doesn’t mean they all make proteins or have a function. As with the representative conjugates, the number of new proteins cannot be confirmed in the title because the reality, translation, cellular location, and animal function of the RNA must be verified separately.<\/p>\n

What should next research answer?<\/h2>\n

The key questions are what signals bring certain genes together in the nucleus, why their binding points are precise, and how conserved they are in normal human tissues and diseases. Targeting therapeutics also requires ensuring that the desired immune effects can be separated from side effects, such as sepsis.<\/p>\n

Primary sources and independent checks<\/h2>\n

Nature \uc6d0 \ub17c\ubb38<\/a><\/p>\n

Harvard Medical School \uc5f0\uad6c \uc124\uba85<\/a><\/p>\n

Laborwelt\uc758 \ub3c5\ub9bd \ub3c5\uc77c\uc5b4 \uacfc\ud559 \ubcf4\ub3c4<\/a><\/p>\n

Nature \uac19\uc740 \ud638 \uc5f0\uad6c \ubaa9\ub85d\uc758 \ub3c5\ub9bd \uc0c9\uc778<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The research team confirmed in mouse macrophages the phenomenon in which RNA from different genes is connected to create a functional protein. This does not mean that the human protein map has immediately increased by thousands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"class_list":["post-1743","briefing","type-briefing","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/briefing\/1743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/briefing"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/briefing"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}