[Research progress on cell surface RNA]

Conventionally, it is believed that the biological functions of RNA are confined to the interior of cells, and the existence of functional RNAs on cell surface as well as their potential mechanisms of action have long remained unclear. In recent years, the discovery and functional research of cell surface RNA have completely revolutionized this traditional perception, confirming its important biological significance as a class of novel surface functional molecules. This review systematically summarizes the latest research advances in the field of cell surface RNA, focusing on four aspects: its classification and characteristics, detection and identification technologies, biogenesis and transport mechanisms, as well as biological functions. It also summarizes the current technical bottlenecks and key scientific challenges in this field, providing a reference for interdisciplinary studies in RNA biology, glycobiology, and immunology.