Research Overview

Our long-term goal is to study fundamental mechanisms of gene expression processes in relation to human diseases and utilize this work to develop novel therapeutic strategies. In particular, we focus on processes involved in cellular RNA homeostasis and translational control. 

Translation is regulated at all major steps (initiation, elongation, and termination) and is often synchronized with other cellular processes/queues. We are interested in the basic mechanism of such translational regulation, particularly focusing on the non-canonical translations across multiple domains of life.

We use novel tools to study the roles of repeat RNA-associated toxicity in a group of neurodegenerative disorders commonly known as ‘Repeat expansion disorders’. We seek to identify novel RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that interact with expanded repeat RNAs, determine the in vivo RNA structures/folding dynamics of different RNA repeats, and then combine these two datasets to determine how specific RBPs facilitate the translation of these disease-causing ‘toxic’ RNAs. 

We also use Drosophila as a model system to study how alterations in fundamental aspects of RNA homeostasis may contribute to human diseases, which include but are not limited to neurodegenerative disorders.