Questions that interest us

• How does RNA control gene expression, and thus cell physiology?

• How can RNA activities be modulated epigenetically?

• What chemical features of tRNA influence its ability to be charged and participate in protein synthesis?

• What chemical features of tRNA influence its biogenesis, step-by-step?

• What chemical features of mRNA influence its ability to be translated?

• How do the enzymes that chemically modify mRNA and tRNA work? Binding? Structural remodeling? What determines their activities?

• How have RNA chemical modifications and the enzymes that catalyze them evolved in nature? What features have remained across life? Which have shown change owing to organismal differences?

• How does dysregulation of RNA chemical modifications lead to human disease?

The methods that we use to address these questions are diverse. We examine RNA and protein molecules in vivo and in vitro, and we examine cells while we interrogate or perturb specific molecules. Biochemistry and molecular biology, genetics, RNA and DNA sequencing, proteomics, and cellular growth assays are all approaches that we undertake regularly in the lab. Our work is also highly collaborative. While some projects are born and mature within the lab entirely, most involve collaborations with other labs at the UO or at several institutions outside.

Please reach out to David or any of the students if you have questions or interest about our work.