Post-transcriptional regulation plays an indispensable role in fine-tuning the accuracy of gene expression. The information encoded in RNA directs the outcome of splicing, transportation, stability and translation efficiency. I am interested in studying how the primary sequence of RNA determines its fate of expression. We will combine computational analysis and biochemical approaches to study the post-transcriptional regulation in a genome-wide fashion.

Pre-mRNA splicing:

  Alternative pre-mRNA splicing is the key post-transcriptional regulation step by which the same DNA sequence can be expressed into various different isoforms. The splice sites are recognized by the small RNA in the gigantic splicing machinery, spliceosome. In the first step of splicing, 5' splice site (5'ss) interacts with U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complex in the spliceosome, and the branchpoint sequence interacts with the U2 snRNP, which then helps determine the 3' splice site (3'ss). The branchpoint sequence recognition is regulated differently in different cell types and developmental stages. I am interested in knowing how RNA-binding proteins can help the recognition and transition into different branchpoint usage during the course of developement and differentiation.

mRNA translation:

  Local mRNA translation is important for responding to stimulus locally in a timely fashion. 3' untranlated region (3'UTR) of mRNA contains sequence elements with affinity to RNA-binding proteins and small RNAs that control its stability, localization and translation. I am interested in studying how natural mutations and sequence polymorphisms in the 3'UTR could affect phenotypes (such as diseases) through the post-transcriptional regulation.

本實驗室以基因體學與分子生物學的角度研究轉錄後的基因調控，包括RNA的剪接、穩定性與轉譯。主要以人類細胞株，利用資訊生物學、生化、分生與次世代定序等等的方法研究基因序列在轉錄後調控所扮演的腳色。

Check out the Video involving my postdoc research : Can RNA Splicing Errors Cause Disease?