Too much RNA can starve cells of energy, scientists discover
Scientists have uncovered a surprising way that viruses can interfere with the body's cells. When too much RNA accumulates inside a cell, it can damage the structures that produce energy, potentially leaving the cell struggling to function normally.
A new study led by researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) found that excess RNA produced during poxvirus infections can impair mitochondria, the tiny structures responsible for generating most of the energy cells need to survive.
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