BIOCHEMISTRY

Structure of U6 RNA bound to Prp24 from the Sam Butcher lab

Control of many mitochondrial functions through the binding of a single PUF protein to many mRNAs. A multi-omic study integrated RNA tagging, CLIP, proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics to identify mRNAs controlled by the PUF protein, Puf3p. These include the protein import machinery, the mitochondrial ribosome, and oxidative phosphorylation. Collaboration between Wickens and Pagliarini labs

Evolutionary rewiring of RNA-protein networks. Direct biochemical analyses of RNA-protein interactions in two highly diverged fungal species demonstrates that a biological function controlled by Puf3p in one species is controlled by a different protein, Puf5p, in the other. Collaboration between the Wickens and Gasch labs

Model of the yeast Sen1-dependent termination complex scanning a nascent RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcript. Binding of terminator elements in the transcript to Nrd1 and Nab3 elicits termination of transcription in a manner dependent on the helicase activity of Sen1 and glutamate 108 of the Rpb11 subunit. From the Dave Brow lab

Fluorescent influenza A reporter viruses were designed to enable real-time detection of co-infected cells. Live cell imaging identifies cells infected by both a GFP and RFP reporter viruses. From the Andrew Mehle Lab

Investigating the function of RNA-binding proteins in neurons. From the Jill Wildonger lab

Data from the Hoskins Lab depicting single molecule colocalization of the yeast U1 snRNP and Branchpoint Bridging Protein (BBP) during spliceosome E complex formation

RNA-protein interactions inside a cell identified by “RNA tagging” A chimeric protein consisting of an RNA-binding protein (RBP) fused to a U-adding enzyme (PUP) is expressed in a cell. Binding of that RBP-PUP protein to an mRNA via a binding element (blue rectangle) marks that RNA with U’s. From the Marv Wickens lab

The Andrew Mehle Lab “hacked” the influenza virus genome to encode the very small and bright NanoLuciferase. In the example shown here, reporter virus was imaged following infection in an embyronated chicken eggs. Blood vessels and the embryo at the bottom are clearly visible. Artistic license was used to depict virus streaking away from the open top of the infected egg

The Hoskins Lab studies hotspot mutations in the spliceosome protein SF3b1 that cause myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and other blood cancers