백신에서 농약까지…리보핵산 시대 열린다 [강석기의 과학풍경]

RNA, or ribonucleic acid, was once an unfamiliar scientific term, mostly overlooked by popular media before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. However, genetic material (DNA) had become a familiar companion in the 2000s genomic era, distinct from RNA in its double-helical structure and stable preservation of genetic information. While DNA is stable for long-term genetic data storage, RNA is somewhat unstable but flexible, playing a key role in various biological processes.

An example is the transfer of genetic information from DNA to mRNA (messenger RNA) before protein synthesis. With the emergence of mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, RNA has since become a commonly seen term. These vaccines use mRNA sequences to instruct human cells to produce specific viral proteins, triggering an immune response against the virus.

Recently, mRNA vaccines have garnered renewed attention, this time targeting cancer cells. American pharmaceutical company Moderna has developed a vaccine by identifying viral variants on a patient's cancer cell surface and creating mRNA containing the corresponding genetic information. This strategy induces the immune system to produce antibodies that target potential residual cancer cells post-treatment, significantly reducing recurrence and metastasis risks in clinical trials.

Personalized treatment based on the unique viral variants of an individual's cancer cells makes this approach highly effective. Although high costs (around 7 billion won) currently limit widespread availability, future generations may see this as a standard treatment following surgery.

Meanwhile, on August 12, the Mexican authorities approved the sale of the world's first RNA pesticide, OP57. Derived from a fungus causing white rot disease in grapes, OP57 utilizes a phenomenon known as "RNA interference" by targeting essential genetic sequences (mRNA) in fungi, preventing them from producing harmful proteins and ultimately killing the fungus.

Unlike conventional chemical pesticides, RNA interference pesticides are highly specific, affecting only targeted organisms and thus minimizing environmental pollution. As an innovative drug designed based on the genetic information of targeted pathogens, both mRNA vaccines and RNA interference pesticides signify significant advancements in healthcare and environmental sustainability.

To a pessimistic observer, these developments offer a glimmer of hope for the future of health and the planet.