Research Interests

Our work focuses on three distinct but interconnected areas of translational biology:

The Interface of rRNA Synthesis and Splicing: We have established a critical link between rRNA synthesis and mRNA splicing. By utilizing specific Pol I inhibitors, we discovered a non-canonical, ribotoxic stress-initiated pathway coordinated by the ribosomal protein RPL22. Our research demonstrates that RPL22 acts as a splicing regulator, where its deficiency—intensified by 28S rRNA sequestration—promotes the splicing of its paralog RPL22L1 and the p53 negative regulator MDM4.

Ribosomal Heterogeneity: Our lab is pioneering the mapping of genetic polymorphism within ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Using customized bioinformatics pipelines and high-coverage whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data, we have identified significant ancestry-linked genetic variance and functional heterogeneity, particularly within the flexible helical folds of 28S rRNA. We aim to understand how these variants drive survival under stress and influence ribosome function.

Translational Fitness and Resistance: We investigate the paradox of cell survival during translational suppression. We have defined the concept of "translational fitness".

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