Jim Maher

BIOGRAPHY

Education
Postdoctoral Training – Molecular Biology/Chemistry. Advisors: Peter B. Dervan and Barbara Wold. Research Area: nucleic acid triple helices
California Institute of Technology

Ph.D. – Molecular Biology. Advisor: Bruce J. Dolnick. Thesis title: ""Antisense oligonucleotides and oligonucleoside methylphosphonates as inhibitors of eukaryotic mRNA translation""
University of Wisconsin, Madison

B.S. – Molecular Biology (Honors)
University of Wisconsin, Madison

Contact Details: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Foundation and Mayo Graduate School, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905
507-284-9041 (office), 507-284-9098 (lab), 507-284-2053 (fax), maher@mayo.edu

We are interested in two aspects of nucleic acid structure and function. First, we pursue research projects with the long-term goals of better understanding DNA recognition and higher-order macromolecular structures involving DNA. The laboratory employs standard molecular biological approaches as well as more novel molecular engineering strategies to explore the relationship between DNA structure and the regulation of transcription initiation. Particular interests include the role of electrostatic interactions in DNA bending by proteins and the role of HMG proteins in overcoming DNA stiffness during transcription activation in eukaryotes.

Second, our laboratory is fascinated by the potential therapeutic application of engineered modulators of information transfer reactions in vivo. We have embarked on a program to seek artificial small RNA transcripts that alter the expression of target genes in living organisms. One initial approach involves creating expression libraries of random RNA transcripts and placing these libraries into E. coli. A selection is then designed so that only cells that have lost gene expression from a target promoter can survive. In this way we seek to isolate RNAs that confer survival by interrupting specific gene expression. To date, several unexpected classes of RNAs have been encountered in such selections. Similarly, we are interested in developing RNA decoys for transcription factors that normally bind to DNA. To identify such RNAs, we are combining in vitro selection procedures with subsequent genetic selections in bacteria and yeast to identify functional decoy RNAs.

HOME PAGE
http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/maher/