tRNAs and gene expression control
My research aims to reveal the molecular mechanisms that lead to the specific base modifications in tRNAs. The attachment of small chemical groups influences the efficiency and accuracy of the codon-anticodon pairing in the ribosome and therefore regulates the translational rates and folding dynamics of protein synthesis. Alterations of these modification pathways play important roles in the onset of certain neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.
Keywords
RNA modifications / epitranscriptomics / tRNA / translation / structural biology / neurodegenerative diseases