In the publication, the researchers from the University of Warsaw under the supervision of prof. Jacek Jemielity described a new method for increasing messenger RNAs (mRNAs) translation. In the mRNAs used so far, the most used first nucleotide transcribed is guanosine. Replacing guanosine with another nucleotide increases, up to sixty times, the level of protein biosynthesis in dendritic cells, i.e. cells crucial for the action of the so-called anti-cancer vaccines. The publication received the status of “Breakthrough Paper” from the reviewers of the journal “Nucleic Acids Research” – a breakthrough article for the development of science.

“This discovery opens up new avenues for designing messenger RNAs with biological properties far superior to anything previously developed in the field. Therapeutic mRNA is one of the most intensively developing research areas in the field of cancer, infectious diseases and rare genetic diseases. One of the major challenges in this field is to minimize the amount of mRNA while achieving sufficient therapeutic effects. Our research shows a new direction in therapeutic mRNA design. Further technologies improving the properties of mRNA, based on the published results, are already being developed in our Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory at the Center for New Technologies and at the Faculty of Physics, and by the UW ExploRNA Therapeutics spin-off company, established together with researchers from the Medical University of Warsaw”, explains Prof. Jacek Jemielity from the Center of New Technologies at the University of Warsaw.

“Nucleic Acids Research” is a scientific journal, that aims to popularize the highest quality research, the results of which are assessed by a group of scientists-reviewers in the field of molecular and cell biology. Breakthrough Paper status is awarded to publications describing research that solves a long-standing problem or indicates new possibilities and directions for the development of science.