University of Missouri – Columbia (MU)
Co/post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by alternative RNA processing is a highly regulated and complex process that exponentially increases the repertoire and dynamic control of gene products. Disrupted RNA processing is implicated in many human diseases, in particular neurological disorders. Alternative RNA processing is regulated by developmental and tissue specific RNA binding proteins (RBPs) which influence core RNA processing machinery. My group studies these regulatory interactions involved in co/post-transcriptional control of neurological development and cell membrane transport/secretion. We characterize these mechanisms using cutting edge RNA sequencing technology, single-molecule RNA detection, mass-spectroscopy, and CRISPR techniques to address our hypotheses in primary cell lines, patient samples, and animal model systems. This work will advance development of novel clinically relevant biomarkers and therapeutic paradigms for rare genetic and neurological disorders.