ur interest in the function of short RNAs grew out of one of the most important advances in biology in the past decade: the discovery that double-stranded short RNA molecules can silence gene expression. RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural phenomenon, widely conserved across phyla, and a method of genome defense in lower eukaryotes. While biological roles for short RNAs have been identified in other eukaryotes, an unambiguous role for short RNA-directed gene silencing has not been identified in mammals. Our laboratory combines hypothesis-driven, discovery-driven, and computation-driven approaches to identify mammalian short RNAs, their cognate mRNA targets, and the proteins that are involved in gene silencing.
Because RNAi is an extremely useful tool, we are working with several groups who use RNAi to discover novel gene functions or attempt to use RNAi in potential therapeutic applications. By investigating the basic mechanisms and applications of short RNAs, we hope to illuminate the biological roles for short RNAs in mammals.
