dsRNAscan maps human dsRNAome, revealing conservation, intermolecular dsRNA, and correlates of ADAR dependency.

dsRNAscan predicts 5 million human dsRNAs, with 2.4 million high-confidence predictions enriched at dsRNA-binding protein sites, revealing extensive dsRNA presence in the human genome.

• Why it matters: Understanding the human dsRNA landscape is crucial because existing methods based on A-to-I editing are limited and cannot identify unedited dsRNAs, hindering insights into their roles in gene regulation and immune responses.
• What they did: Researchers developed dsRNAscan, a computational tool, and applied it to the human genome, using machine learning trained on editing and structure data to identify and characterize dsRNAs, including conserved and intermolecular types.
• The result: The study found that the ratio of intramolecular to intermolecular dsRNAs correlates with ADAR dependency in cancer cell lines, providing insights into dsRNA regulation and a resource for further research at https://dsrna.chpc.utah.edu/.