Research: RNA, Not DNA, is Behind the Pain and Redness of Sunburn
 | By Sanjay Devaraja, Editor, LKCMedicine's Redefine Newsletter |
For years, sunburn has been widely attributed to damage inflicted on DNA by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, a new collaborative study by researchers from LKCMedicine and the University of Copenhagen has significantly reshaped our understanding of this common biological response.
Their published findings reveal that RNA, rather than DNA, is primarily responsible for the immediate effects of sunburn, including inflammation and cell death.
Traditionally, UV-induced DNA damage was believed to be the central trigger for sunburn’s acute symptoms. DNA, which stores genetic information, was considered the key target due to its long-term implications in mutation and cancer development. However, this new research highlights the role of messenger RNA (mRNA)—a molecule that translates DNA instructions into proteins—as a more immediate and crucial factor.
The study demonstrates that UV radiation causes substantial RNA damage, which rapidly activates a cellular surveillance mechanism governed by a protein known as ZAK-alpha. Once RNA integrity is compromised, ZAK-alpha initiates inflammatory and immune responses, resulting in the characteristic redness, pain, and swelling associated with sunburn. Importantly, this RNA-based response is more rapid and dynamic than traditional DNA repair mechanisms, enabling the body to react swiftly to environmental stress.
The study challenges conventional wisdom about the mechanics of sunburn. While DNA is known to store genetic information and can be passed down through generations, RNA is a more transient molecule that plays a crucial role in translating genetic information into the proteins that make up our cells.
The study has important implications for understanding and treating sunburn and other skin-related conditions. LKCMedicine’s Nanyang Assistant Professor Franklin Zhong, co-author of the study, points out that many chronic inflammatory skin diseases are aggravated by sun exposure. By understanding how RNA damage drives the body’s response to UV radiation, new treatments for these conditions could emerge.
He said, “We may need to rethink our approach to preventing and treating sunburn, particularly in people with chronic skin conditions. Understanding how our skin responds at the cellular level to UV damage opens the door to innovative treatments for certain chronic skin conditions.”