We draw upon diverse techniques, including protein engineering, biochemical reconstitution, genomics,
cell-based experiments and CRISPR-Cas to understand how RNA modifications work.
Decoding the functions of RNA modifications using synthetic RNA
Decoding the functions of RNA modifications using synthetic RNA
While more than 150 RNA modifications have been discovered to date, their physiological functions remain largely unknown. We are developing CRISPR-based and CRISPR-free technologies to synthesize mRNA with modifications at defined locations. These 'designer' RNAs will enable the mechanistic dissection of when, where, and how RNA modifications function. We use reconstituted biochemical reactions and mammalian cells as the testbed for these synthetic modified RNAs.