NCN OPUS grant for research on the mechanisms of cytoplasmic recognition of double-stranded RNA

25 06 2026

Dr Karolina Drążkowska from the Laboratory of Epitranscriptomics at the Institute of Bioengineering has received PLN 2,758,400 in funding from the National Science Centre under the OPUS 30 call for the project entitled “Cytoplasmic recognition of double-stranded RNA as a trigger of cellular stress responses and RNA remodeling”.

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) acts as a universal “danger signal” that triggers defensive responses in cells. Its presence is most often a sign of a viral infection, but it can also result from abnormal metabolism of the cell’s own RNA molecules. In human cells, dsRNA appearing in the cytoplasm is detected by several specialized systems that trigger different types of responses: the activation of genes encoding interferons through stimulation of the RIG-I and MDA5 receptors, the inhibition of protein synthesis as a result of PKR activation, or RNA degradation via the OAS/RNase L pathway.

During an infection, the cell activates all these responses simultaneously, making it difficult to attribute a specific effect to each of them. The aim of the project is to investigate the relationships between these processes by separating the overlapping responses and determining how each dsRNA detection system affects cell behavior. To achieve this, the researchers will generate a set of synthetic dsRNAs focusing on its particular properties, such as length, chemical modifications, and 5′-end structure. The molecules will be designed to activate each of the investigated pathways separately. The researchers will examine how individual dsRNA detection mechanisms affect gene activity, protein synthesis, and RNA stability. They will also investigate how specific pathways alter the internal organization of the cell, particularly structures known as stress granules, which store RNA during cellular stress. This will allow to create a map of cellular responses to dsRNA to illustrate which genes are activated, which RNA molecules are protected or degraded, how protein synthesis changes and how cellular structures are reorganized. The project will provide new knowledge about how cells interpret one of the most important signals of infection and stress.

The results will significantly contribute to the development of biomedical sciences by helping to explain why some viruses cause a strong inflammatory response while others do not. They may also support the development of RNA-based medicines that avoid unwanted activation of the immune system. The findings will broaden the understanding of diseases in which dsRNA detection is impaired, including certain autoimmune disorders and diseases caused by errors in RNA metabolism.

Warm congratulations on receiving the grant, and best wishes for the successful completion of the project!

Details of the National Science Centre funding calls are available at:
https://www.ncn.gov.pl/aktualnosci/2026-06-11-wyniki-opus30-sonata21