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However, researchers at the University of Copenhagen<\/a> and Nanyang Technological University<\/a> (NTU Singapore) have made surprising new strides in our understanding of sunburn.<\/p>\n As it turns out, the DNA damage we\u2019ve always associated with sunburn might not be the complete story.<\/p>\n DNA, RNA, and sunburn damage<\/p>\n When it comes to sunburn, the prevailing wisdom suggests that DNA<\/a> damage triggers inflammation and subsequent cell death.<\/p>\n However, this recent research suggests that the real offender might be RNA<\/a>, not DNA. <\/p>\n \u201cSunburn damages the DNA, leading to cell death and inflammation. So the textbooks say,\u201d stated assistant professor Anna Constance Vind from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cBut in this study we were surprised to learn that this is a result of damage to the RNA, not the DNA that causes the acute effects of sunburn.\u201d <\/p>\n But what\u2019s the difference between DNA and RNA? While they share similarities, the two aren\u2019t interchangeable. <\/p>\n DNA is a more consistent molecule, whereas RNA is more transitory. <\/p>\n A particular type of RNA, messenger RNA (mRNA), carries information from DNA to create proteins \u2013 the fundamental building blocks of cells.<\/p>\n Understanding RNA \u2014 the basics<\/p>\n RNA, or ribonucleic acid<\/a>, is like the cell\u2019s versatile messenger, playing several key roles in keeping our bodies running smoothly. <\/p>\n Unlike DNA, which holds the long-term genetic blueprint, RNA is more dynamic and can move around the cell to help build proteins.<\/p>\n RNA essentially acts as the bridge between our genetic code and the actual production of the proteins that do all the work in our cells.<\/p>\n mRNA<\/a>, or messenger RNA, is a special type of RNA that has gained a lot of attention, especially with the development of mRNA vaccines. <\/p>\n mRNA carries the instructions from DNA out of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm, where proteins are made. <\/p>\n Think of mRNA as a temporary copy of a specific gene that tells the cell exactly which protein to produce and when. This makes mRNA incredibly important for everything from growth and repair to responding to infections.<\/p>\n mRNA and ultraviolet rays<\/p>\n The importance of mRNA in our body\u2019s response to UV radiation<\/a> can\u2019t be understated. <\/p>\n \u201cDNA damage is serious as the mutations will get passed down to progenies of the cells, RNA damage happens all the time and does not cause permanent mutations,\u201d Vind explained. <\/p>\n \u201cTherefore, we used to believe that the RNA is less important, as long as the DNA is intact. But in fact, damages to the RNA are the first to trigger a response to UV radiation.\u201d<\/p>\n Investigating more deeply into the matter was no small task.<\/p>\n The researchers embarked on a study involving both mice and human skin cells to better understand the consequences of UV radiation on the skin. They discovered a consistent response in both species.<\/p>\n ZAK-alpha and sunburn damage<\/p>\n RNA damage activates a response in ribosomes<\/a> (protein complexes that interpret the mRNA to assemble proteins).<\/p>\n This process is managed by a protein known as ZAK-alpha, which triggers what is referred to as the \u201cribotoxic stress response.\u201d<\/p>\n Think of it like a vigilant watchman, always on the lookout for RNA damage. When it detects any, it won\u2019t hesitate to call for backup.<\/p>\n \u201cWe found that the first thing the cells respond to after being exposed to UV radiation<\/a> is damage to the RNA, and that this is what triggers cell death and inflammation of the skin,\u201d explained Professor Simon Bekker-Jensen, who was also from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.<\/p>\n In mice exposed to UV radiation we found responses such as inflammation and cell death, but when we removed the ZAK gene, these responses disappeared, which means that ZAK plays a key role in the skin\u2019s response to UV-induced damage.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you could say that everything depends on this one response, which monitors all protein translations occurring,\u201d Bekker-Jensen elaborated.<\/p>\n \u201cThe cells respond to the RNA damage, realizing that something is wrong, and this is what leads to\u00a0cell death.\u201d<\/p>\n Paradigm shift<\/p>\n The study\u2019s findings question our long-held beliefs about sunburn and how our skin<\/a> safeguards itself. <\/p>\n It suggests that RNA damage sparks a quicker, more efficient response, which safeguards the skin from additional harm.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that the DNA does not control the skin\u2019s initial response to UV radiation, but that something else does and that it does so more effectively and more quickly, is quite the paradigm shift,\u201d reflected Vind.<\/p>\n Knowing how our skin reacts to UV damage at a cellular level could potentially transform prevention and treatment approaches to sunburn and other inflammatory skin conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cMany inflammatory skin diseases are worsened by sun exposure<\/a>. Thus, understanding how our skin responds at the cellular level to UV damage opens the door to innovative treatments for certain chronic skin conditions,\u201d explained Dr. Franklin Zhong, Nanyang assistant professor at NTU\u2019s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and a co-author of the study.<\/p>\n Rewriting the textbooks<\/p>\n In closing, it seems now is the time to revise our textbooks and rethink how we perceive the effects of UV radiation on our skin. <\/p>\n \u201cThis new knowledge turns things upside down. I think most people associate sunburn with DNA damage; it is established knowledge,\u201d Professor Simon Bekker-Jensen concluded. <\/p>\n \u201cBut now we need to rewrite the textbooks, and it will affect future research on the effects of UV radiation on the skin.\u201d<\/p>\n The full study was published in the journal Molecular Cell<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter<\/a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.<\/p>\n Check us out on EarthSnap<\/a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls<\/a> and Earth.com.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Your skin protects you from things like dirt, germs, and other harmful things in the environment. But because…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":630993,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[49,48,84],"class_list":{"0":"post-630992","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-health"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630992","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=630992"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630992\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/630993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=630992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=630992"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=630992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Using](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/sunburn-study_graphical-illustration_credit-Molecular-Cell-Journal_1s.webp.webp\")
<\/a>Using ZAK knockout mice, we here show that it is the RSR that is responsible for the early manifestation of UVB-induced skin inflammation and keratinocyte death and subsequent proliferation in vivo. We also show that the RSR controls both p38-mediated pyroptotic and JNK-mediated apoptotic programmed cell death of human keratinocytes in vitro. In sum, our work highlights that skin cells rely on a cytoplasmic and ribosomal stress signal rather than a nuclear and DNA-templated signal for rapid inflammatory responses to UV exposure. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Molecular Cell Journal<\/p>\n