Discovering how the body creates and regulates RNA functions is critical to health and will further our understanding of how cells divide and genetic diseases arise. RNA is a complex molecule, with a number of different active pathways – it can act as a biocatalyst as well as a carrier of information.
The control of mRNA fate
We are studying how the fate of mRNA is regulated under both active growth and stress conditions. As such, we investigate mRNA entry into P-bodies, stress granules and RNA granules associated with translation.
We also follow how the determination of mRNA is co-ordinated with other processes including RNA processing, RNA export, RNA degradation and translation.
Principal investigator: Professor Mark Ashe
Asymmetric cell division in tissue morphogenesis
Our research focuses on the mechanisms driving the sub-cellular targeting and differential inheritance of mRNAs/proteins during the asymmetric division of cells. In particular, we are interested in how these asymmetric divisions can generate distinct ‘leader’ and ‘follower’ cell identities that critically coordinate the collective movement and morphogenesis of cell populations during embryonic development.
Principal investigator: Dr Shane Herbert
Rare inherited diseases
As clinical geneticists, alongside colleagues in the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we see families with rare inherited conditions. We undertake genomic studies to identify the genetic variants that cause these conditions.
To date these studies have identified variants in genes key to spliceosomal (Burn McKeown syndrome) and mitochondrial ribosomal (Perrault syndrome) function.
We work alongside colleagues in the RNA and Protein Control group to characterise the effects of these variants.
Principal investigator: Professor Bill Newman
RNA processing and function in health and disease
We are interested in all aspects of RNA function with the cell, especially the regulation of pre-messenger RNA splicing and the functional analysis of non-coding RNAs. We are investigating the mechanisms of how intron regions are removed from pre-messenger RNA during RNA splicing and how this splicing process can go wrong during disease.
Additionally, we are keen to identify the function of the thousands of non-coding RNAs that a cell makes.
Principal investigator: Dr Ray O'Keefe