Research Description:

In humans, small RNAs are loaded into four Argonaute proteins to form the effector complexes called the RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs).  The RISCs bind to target RNAs and control their gene expression.  Other proteins and RNAs regulate the activity of RISCs.  Due to the significance of the RNA silencing, the dysregulation causes neurodegenerative diseases and cancers.  We take a combinatorial approach, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and structural biology, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of RNA silencing.