RNA molecules with different destinies are processed through overlapping pathways

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14 July 2026 RNA molecules with different destinies are processed through overlapping pathways The protein complex that helps messenger RNA to leave the nucleus is remarkably similar to the one that facilitates the destruction of short, unwanted transcripts. By Rosemary Kiernan 0 Rosemary Kiernan Rosemary Kiernan is at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH), National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), University of Montpellier, 34396 Montpellier, France. View author publications PubMed Google Scholar

Cells produce many more RNA molecules than they ultimately use. Because transcription is so pervasive in eukaryotic cells (those with a nucleus), lots of short, unstable transcripts are generated alongside protein-coding messenger RNAs1,2. Many of these non-coding RNAs are eliminated in the nucleus by a mechanism called the poly(A) tail exosome targeting (PAXT) pathway, which directs transcripts to a molecular machine known as the nuclear exosome for degradation3,4. Writing in Nature, Bugai et al.5 address a fundamental question: how does the cell distinguish these doomed RNAs from transcripts destined to be exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm?

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-02041-2

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Competing Interests The author declares no competing interests.

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