Control of Gene Expression

BIOGRAPHY

Research Abstract:
We study the structure and dynamics of RNA and RNA:protein complexes, with the goal of describing the basis of molecular recognition in these fascinating complexes. We have focused on the human U1A protein bound to its two RNA targets. Now we have expanded the study of this family of proteins to the Drosophila protein SNF and the two RNA hairpins that it binds, to the human U2B" protein and its RNA hairpin targets, as well as U1A and U2B" from C elegans. We propose that these proteins have co-evolved with their RNA targets, which has implications for what is common and diverse among the complexes. These studies use NMR, fluorescence, and computational methods, as well as biochemical techniques. We are also intrigued by the properties of RNA alone, and are using in vitro and computational methods to investigate the folding and dynamics of both small and larger RNAs.