mRNA Vaccine Mechanism Unveiled by Korean Team
- Yul So
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
April 9, 2025
Yul So
A Korean research team has presented the first scientific explanation of an unknown biological process. On April 4, the team led by Professor V. Narry Kim, director of the RNA Research Center at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and distinguished professor at Seoul National University's Department of Biological Sciences, announced that they had uncovered the molecular mechanism by which mRNA vaccines function within cells, as well as key regulatory proteins and the evasion strategies involved. The results of this study were published online in the world-renowned journal Science on April 4.Even though millions of people got mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna during the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists didn’t fully understand what happened to the mRNA after it entered the body.
To find out, the team used a tool called CRISPR to turn off genes one by one and see which ones affected how the mRNA worked. They discovered important proteins that help the mRNA enter the cell, stay safe, and make the protein it’s supposed to.
First, they found that a substance on the surface of cells, called heparan sulfate, helps pull the vaccine’s mRNA inside. Then, a protein called V-ATPase makes part of the cell acidic, which helps the mRNA escape into the part of the cell where it can make proteins. But the cell sees this as a possible attack and tries to destroy the mRNA.
A protein called TRIM25 is in charge of this defense. It senses the foreign mRNA and brings in other proteins to break it down. The researchers discovered that the vaccine uses a special ingredient called N1-methylpseudouridine to hide from TRIM25 so it can do its job before being destroyed.
This is the first time scientists have proven how this special ingredient works. The study helps us understand how mRNA vaccines avoid being attacked by the immune system and stay effective.
This research is expected to significantly advance the development of more efficient mRNA vaccines and RNA-based therapies for diseases such as cancer and genetic disorders.
