Macromolecular Structure Group Understanding RNA Recognition
Strategies in Post-Transcriptional Gene Regulation The
Macromolecular Structure Group uses molecular, biochemical, and
structural approaches to understand how proteins specifically
recognize their RNA targets. These studies have revealed some of
the diversity of RNA recognition strategies that exist in
nature, and they guide our appreciation for how the specificity
impacts coordinated regulation of RNA networks. Examples of
studies are below: Post-transcriptional gene regulation by PUF
proteins PUF family proteins are found in organisms from humans
to yeast. Typical PUF proteins contain a characteristic
sequence-specific RNA-binding domain and regulate gene
expression by binding to regulatory sequences and modulating
mRNA stability or translation. The Macromolecular Structure
Group uses them as a model system for understanding how
diversity of RNA recognition properties can be achieved and the
correlation between specificity and coordinated gene reg