CENTER FOR GENOMIC INFORMATION ENCODED
BY RNA NUCLEOTIDE MODIFICATIONS

 

About:

The Center for Quantitative and Site-Specific Analysis of RNA Modifications seeks to fundamentally advance our understanding of gene expression regulation in the cell. We are focusing on the powerful ability of the translating ribosome to control gene expression. The ribosome can preferentially translate some mRNAs over others, and when mRNAs are selected for translation, ribosome stalling can reduce translation output and induce mRNA decay. Thus, the rRNA-tRNA-mRNA complex is a major determinant of gene expression in cells. However, the regulation of this complex is poorly understood. This is largely because the rRNA, tRNA, and mRNA communities are very distinct. No single lab has the expertise to study all three RNAs and their interactions. Additionally, our hypothesis is that the incredible diversity of nucleotide modifications in these RNAs may have a critical role in regulating the assembly of this complex. Our hypothesis is grounded by several emerging studies showing that rRNA, tRNA, and mRNA modifications are not constitutive—at certain nucleotide positions nucleotide modification stoichiometry is variable, depending on the tissue or disease context. Thus, this Center will bring together rRNA, tRNA, and mRNA researchers to work together to develop scalable technologies to map and quantify modifications in rRNA, tRNA, and mRNA, and to determine how these modifications control rRNA-tRNA; rRNA-mRNA, and tRNA-mRNA interactions to regulate gene expression.