Engineering modifiers of protein-nucleic acid interactions
An example of inhibitory RNA aptamers binding the NF-kappaB transcription factor by molecular mimicry of the normal DNA target from the Nucleic Acid Structure and Recognition Lab led by Dr. Maher at Mayo Clinic.
Overview
The research laboratory of Louis (Jim) J. Maher III, Ph.D., studies the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. Dr. Maher's research team works to understand how the locally stiff DNA molecule is bent and looped by proteins, and how this bending is involved in the control of gene expression. The lab's studies involve bacterial, yeast and mammalian systems, as well as artificial systems of nucleic acids and proteins engineered to test basic principles.
The lab also studies how unnatural DNAs and RNAs can be selected from vast random libraries of hundreds of trillions of single-stranded molecules for the ability to tightly bind and inhibit proteins on and in living cells. This work seeks to develop new approaches to artificial gene regulation in diseases such as cancer, and to find new ways to provoke cell regeneration and other biological responses. Example applications include the inhibition of specific transcription factors, the stimulation of remyelination and regeneration in neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and the identification of nucleic acids that can sneak into cells.
The Nucleic Acid Structure and Recognition Lab also works to understand the biochemistry of cancers such as paraganglioma and glioblastoma where aberrant metabolism may play a key role in tumor growth and therapy.
Affiliations
The Maher lab is affiliated with several Mayo Clinic research areas: