Research

The lab has a keen interest in the fundamental mechanisms that regulate RNA Polymerase II activity across eukaryotic genomes, and their implications on human health.

Research topic 1

Mechanism of Transcription Termination

We are deeply interested in the fundamental understanding of how RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) transcription is terminated. We use in vitro reconstitution of multi-subunit protein complexes in combination with functional assays and structural approaches (e.g., cryoEM) to understand how transcribing Pol II is evicted from its DNA template.

Research topic 2

Termination in stress and disease

In many cancers, infections, and stress Pol II fails to terminate and continues transcribing downstream of the 3'-end of genes. These termination defects can impact the expression of downstream genes (both positevely and negatively) and alter a cell's gene expression program. It is entirely unclear why or how this happens, or whether any of these termination defects have an adaptive function. By using cell-based assays, genetic screens and chemical-genomics we aim to understand the impact of altered transcription termination in healthy vs. diseased or stressed cells.