A new paperclip shaped RNA molecule kills the fall armyworm with far greater efficiency than current genetic pesticides.
April 29, 2026
Original Paper
Paperclip RNA outperforms dsRNA for insecticidal gene silencing in fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)
SSRN · 6663772
The Takeaway
RNA interference is a promising way to kill pests by turning off their vital genes without using toxic chemicals. Traditional RNA molecules are fragile and break down quickly in the field, making them hard to use at scale. This paperclip design uses a specific structural fold to protect the RNA from degradation, keeping it active for much longer. In tests on the fall armyworm, this stable molecule led to significantly higher death rates than standard linear versions. This breakthrough could finally make genetic based pesticides a practical and sustainable reality for global farming. It turns a laboratory experiment into a durable tool for protecting the world's food supply.
From the abstract
The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major pest threatening global agriculture. Insecticidal gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) induced by a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has emerged as a promising strategy for sustainable pest management. However, RNAi efficacy against S. frugiperda is constrained by physiological barriers, including rapid degradation by gut nucleases and reduced cytosolic availability upon dsRNA uptake. Paperclip dsRNA (pcRNA) is a struct