The hunt for a natural molecule that can release cellular energy - Phys.org

What the report says

Phys.Org, in an article provided by The Ohio State University and dated July 25, 2026, reported that Ohio State researchers have identified a human-derived noncoding RNA that can bind to ATP, the molecule cells use to power biological activity. The finding was published in Non-coding RNA Research and is being studied as a possible step toward discovering an RNA molecule with ATPase-like behavior.

ATP normally releases usable cellular energy when enzymes known as ATPases initiate its breakdown. According to the report, the Ohio State team is interested in whether a smaller, more flexible molecule than a protein enzyme could eventually help direct or block ATP-related energy release in targeted ways, including possible therapeutic nanomaterials. Senior author Peixuan Guo, a professor in the university’s Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, has previously worked on functional noncoding RNAs and RNA-based nanoparticles.

First author Margaret Bohmer screened RNA extracted from human cells through repeated selection rounds to find segments that attached to ATP. After removing nonbinding material and sequencing the remaining pool, the team identified one noncoding RNA with strong ATP binding. The structure is described as a G-quadruplex, a compact and stable RNA form.

The reported discovery does not establish that the RNA can break down ATP or function as an ATPase. The researchers are now investigating how it binds ATP and whether it may be part of a broader ATPase motor mechanism. The work matters because it challenges the assumption that ATP activity in human cells is handled only by proteins, while remaining at an early, exploratory stage.