Integrated Biomedical Science Graduate Program at The Ohio State University

Research interests

Genetic, biochemical and genomic approaches are being used to understand post-transcriptional control mechanisms used by retroviruses and their host cells to modulate viral infection and control cellular growth. A major emphasis of the lab has been on our discovery of a novel post-transcriptional control element that is conserved in selected retroviruses and naturally intronless cellular mRNAs. This novel RNA element is positioned at the extreme 5' terminus of the mRNA and functions in a cap-dependent manner to stimulate translation. Using proteomic approaches, we have identified RNA helicase A (member of DEAD box superfamily) is an essential PCE effector protein. RNA helicase A is recruited to PCE in the nucleus and subsequently operates a binary switch that facilitates translational activity of this mRNA in the cytoplasm. In addition to investigating the molecular mechanism of selective translational control, the lab is implementing PCE as an important component of an unique class of hybrid retroviral vector that replicate the structural genes of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) and new HIV-based lentiviral vectors with improved protein synthetic activity.

Contact info

Address:
The Ohio State University
333 Goss Lab
Columbus, Oh 43210
Phone: 614-292-1392
Email: Boris-Lawrie.1@osu.edu

Kathleen Boris-lawrie

Research interests

Contact info