Gene Regulation
>Listed below are the research projects that our researchers are involved in.
Small RNAs, RNA modifications
The Chen lab uses Arabidopsis thaliana as a model to study small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which serve as specificity factors in transcriptional and posttranscriptional gene silencing. In the past two decades, research in her lab focused on elucidating the mechanisms underlying small RNA biogenesis, turnover, and modes of action. A current focus is to study how miRNAs and siRNAs serve as mobile signals in plants’ responses to environments and what mechanisms govern the non-cell autonomous activities of small RNAs. A second research direction centers on noncanonical RNA capping by cellular metabolites, such as NAD, FAD, and dpCoA. The goals are to uncover the mechanisms underlying the deposition and removal of the noncanonical caps, elucidate their molecular functions, and to discover the biological processes regulated by noncanonical RNA capping.
VISIT DR. XUEMEI CHEN'S PROFILE
Epitranscriptomics
The major objective of the research projects in the Wang laboratory related to RNA is to understand the contributions of post-transcriptional modifications of RNA in gene regulation and human diseases. Current research projects include: (1) identification and functional characterizations of cellular proteins that are involved in the recognition, installation and removal (i.e., reader, writer and eraser proteins) of modified nucleosides in RNA; (2) targeted quantifications of modified ribonucleosides and epitranscriptomic reader, writer, and eraser proteins in cells and tissues; (3) elucidation of the molecular mechanisms through which RNA modifications contribute to human diseases, especially cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, and resistance to chemo- and radiation therapy. Highly interdisciplinary approaches, including mass spectrometry-based bioanalytical chemistry, proteomics, next-generation sequencing, molecular biology and cell biology, are employed in these projects.
VISIT DR. YINSHENG WANG'S PROFILE
Alternative Splicing, Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay (NMD)
VISIT DR. SIKA ZHENG'S PROFILE
Chromatin structure/epigenetics and the role of long non coding RNA
Dr. Karine Le Roch, PhD is a Professor of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology. She has over 20 years of broad expertise in drug discovery and functional genomics in eukaryotic organisms with a particular interest in apicomplexan parasites including Plasmodium falciparum, the protozoan parasite that causes the deadliest form of malaria in humans. At UCR Prof. Le Roch has developed high-throughput methodologies to identify key molecular pathways underlying pathogen and host cell development with a particular interest in epigenetics and chromatin structure. More recently, she has developed new approaches to understand the role of Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Apicomplexan parasites. lncRNAs are emerging as new players in many aspects of biological processes including transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Prof Le Roch seeks to better understand not only the function of lncRNAs in apicomplexan parasites but their potential as new lncRNA-based therapies.
VISIT DR. KARINE LE ROCH'S PROFILE
Non-coding RNAs, Arabidopsis, Light Signaling
Plant growth and development are profoundly regulated by environmental light cues. The wavelength, intensity, and periodicity of the ambient light environment are continuously monitored by plants via photoreceptors to modulate the expression of light-responsive genes, thereby generating adaptive responses. Our lab is interested in elucidating functions of non-coding RNAs in the light control of plant growth and photosynthesis.
tsRNAs, rsRNAs, RNA modifications
We explore the expanding universe of small RNAs (e.g., tsRNAs, rsRNAs) with new experimental and analytical tools, decoding the 'RNA code' (RNA expression & modification profiles) in regard to gene regulation in embryonic cell fate control and sperm-mediated epigenetic inheritance, and to discover their diseases associations such as with metabolic disorders and cancer.
RNA-binding proteins, microRNAs, post-transcriptional gene regulation
Gene expression is elaborately controlled at the post-transcriptional level through interactions of small RNAs (microRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with specific sites on messenger RNAs, affecting the stability and translation rates of the mRNAs, and altering the protein output. Binding of microRNAs or RBPs at nearby sites on the same mRNA allows for additive or synergistic interactions between the regulators themselves, imparting a higher order of combinatorial control. We focus on the overall mapping and principles of the interactions between mRNAs and their controlling factors - microRNAs and RBPs, and the interplay between these factors, employing a mixture of tools in molecular biology, bioinformatics and cell biology, with applications in neurobiology.
VISIT DR. TED KARGINOV'S PROFILE
Fungal Biology; Transposable elements; Genome Defense; Gene expression profiling
Research in the group studies fungi, their biology, and interactions with plant and animal hosts. We use genome and transcriptome profiling to examine microbe-host interactions, genome size evolution, and genome defenses impacting transposable elements.