RNA goes glyco

Abstract

Ribonucleic acid, or RNA, is a hugely important biopolymer. It encodes information, shuttles messages around, and regulates processes inside cells. But while scientists have found that RNA molecules can be functionalized with many different chemical groups, sugar molecules were not part of the RNA language—until now. Carolyn Bertozzi at Stanford University and colleagues ( Cell 2021, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.023 ) report that RNA molecules can be decked with sugar molecules and position themselves in cell membranes. Early evidence suggests that they could be there to signal the immune system, the researchers say. Max Crispin, a glycobiologist at the University of Southampton, describes the findings as “extraordinary.” He says the discovery “adds to the complexity of extracellular RNA and opens up so many research questions.” At its simplest, glycosylation is the addition of carbohydrates to a molecule. In biology, it has become increasingly recognized for its roles in regulating life processes. Cells