The human genome consists of billions of RNA molecules -; called noncoding RNAs, or nc nucleic acids -; found where genes are active, expressed and active in different parts of the body.
For as little as 10 years, scientists have been chasing for RNA molecules that could tell us how nutrient-starved cells are for a healthy human body.
But scientists have struggled in pinpointing individual nc transcripts for the different diet-induced metabolic disorders -; obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes -; that affect some billions of people worldwide.
Now a new study led by Princeton University health sciences researcher Haesung Hwang, PhD, by the lab of Darshana Chakradhar, PhD, student in Hamilton’s laboratory, shows for the first time how c-S rRNA can direct the accumulation of body weight in different tissues such as the liver and skin, where its accumulation is the focus.