Weis Projects

The life of mRNAs: from transcription to mRNA degradation.

As the messenger between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, mRNA is at the center of the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. We study various aspects that control mRNA abundance and availability starting with transcriptional regulation in the nucleus followed by the export through the nuclear pore complex and finally the degradation in the cytoplasm. Among the questions that we ask are:

• How does nuclear organization and chromatin structure influence transcription?
• What is the mechanism of mRNA export and how is it regulated?
• What is the structure of the nuclear pore complex?
• How does the nuclear pore complex function in the transport of mRNA and proteins?
• What is the mechanism of cytoplasmic mRNA degradation and how is it regulated?
• How do cells respond to acute nutrient withdrawal?

Master projects related to these questions are available in the laboratory. Please contact Karsten Weis or Elisa Dultz for inquiries.