RNA Innovation Seminar: Junjie Guo, Yale University School of Medicine

RNA Plasticity in Neuronal Health & Disease
Junjie Guo, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Neuroscience
Yale University School of Medicine

In-person: BSRB, ABC seminar rooms / hybrid link

Abstract: Spatial and temporal regulation of gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels underlies the development and functions of the nervous system, whereas dysregulated gene expression is often implicated in neurological disorders. My lab has been interested in the roles of post-transcriptional mRNA regulation in diversifying the functional output of neuronal gene expression. In this talk, I will discuss our ongoing work on understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms by which disease-associated nucleotide repeat expansion disrupt neuronal health. I will also discuss our new work on the unexpected plasticity of N-terminal signal sequences and the role of alternative mRNA translation initiation in tuning this plasticity.

Keywords: RNA processing, mRNA translation, signal sequence, synapse, neurodegeneration