Scientists now understand how Botox paralyzes muscles without destroying the neurons that control them. A new study finds that protective transfer RNA (tRNA) fragments accumulate in neurons exposed to botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A). They interact with RNA-binding proteins and messenger RNA transcripts to block signals that would induce a type of cell death called ferroptosis, which is driven by oxidative stress and iron buildup. Essentially, these RNA fragments protect neurons from degeneration.

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