Jeremy Sanford, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Indiana University School of Medicine
"Cracking the splicing code: Genomic analysis of RNA binding protein target specificity"
WHEN: Wednesday, February 6, 2008, 4:00PMWHERE: 101 Life Sciences Addition
Dr. Sanford's research is on post-transcriptional control (PTC) of eukaryotic gene expression. PTC is exerted through the activities of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) as well as small RNAs. I have a long-standing interest in both the mechanisms of action and mRNA targets of RBPs. Although RBPs are known to regulate post-transcriptional gene expression by influencing such diverse processes as alternative pre-mRNA splicing, RNA editing, polyadenylation, mRNA export, mRNA stability, mRNA localization and mRNA translation, the underlying mechanisms are only beginning to emerge and many fundamental questions remain unanswered. For example, it remains unclear why the activities of some RBPs are restricted to discrete processing events, while other RBPs appear to be multifunctional . Clearly, an understanding of the roles played by RNA binding proteins in PTC is crucial to deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular differentiation, development and even human disease.