Ashleigh Smirnov

Short UG-rich RNAs bind and stabilize TDP-43 RNA-recognition motifs to allosterically destabilize its prion-like domain helical region, preventing aggregation and mitigating neurodegeneration in cells and mice.

The paper identifies short RNAs that prevent and reverse pathological fibrillization of RNA-binding proteins like FUS and TDP-43, showing therapeutic potential for ALS/FTD.