RNA modification enzymes and disease Recent studies have demonstrated that RNA modification enzymes play critical roles in a wide range of human diseases, particularly in tumorigenesis. A substantial body of research has focused on the interplay between specific RNA modification enzymes and disease, such as the interplay between acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and m6A modifications, as well as the association between m5C modifications and tumor metastasis. However, our preliminary data suggest that RNA modification enzymes can also function as downstream regulators of signaling cascades in a manner that is independent of their enzymatic activity. RNA translation and disease onset Mammalian cells must swiftly adapt to internal and external changes, such as hormone fluctuations, metabolic byproducts, or environmental stresses. Growing evidence suggests that translational regulation plays a pivotal role in these early responses, preceding transcriptional regulation. Thus, gaining a deeper understanding of gene expression regulation at the translational level can reveal critical insights into underlying molecular mechanisms. Our goal is to develop novel tools for detecting changes in translation with ultra-low input requirements and immediately following stimulus.
Identification of snoRNA new function Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), which function as guide RNAs to facilitate the deposition of 2′-O-methylation or pseudouridylation on rRNAs, have been implicated in various cancers. However, the precise role of snoRNAs in oncogenesis remains unclear, primarily due to the lack of effective CRISPR-Cas screening systems. To this end, we developed a lentiviral paired-guide RNA (pgRNA) library targeting snoRNAs, enabling the removal of snoRNAs rather than introducing short deletions or insertions that may not impact the phenotype. Using this screening system, we aim to further investigate the functional contributions of snoRNAs in tumorigenesis.
Ma Lab 