| Our
laboratory studies gene expression, RNA splicing, autocatalytic
introns, and retroviral-like genetic elements in eukaryotes and
prokaryotes. We are interested in mechanisms of RNA catalysis, how
proteins assist the folding of RNAs into active structures, mechanisms
of intron mobility to new genomic site, the evolution of introns and
splicing mechanisms, and the evolutionary origin of retroviruses and
reverse transcription. Our research employs a combination of genetic,
biochemical, and structural approaches. In practical applications of
our work, we have used mobile group II introns to develop a new type of
gene targeting vector, dubbed "targetron", which can be programmed to
insert efficiently into desired DNA sites. Targetrons are now sold
commercially. They are widely used in academic laboratories and
industry for the genetic engineering and systems biology of bacteria,
and we are developing methods for using them in higher organisms,
including human cells. Recently, we have been developing new
thermostable group II intron reverse transcriptases as tools for
applications in next-generation RNA sequencing, miRNA profiling, and
diagnostics. |
