A class of proteins called RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play key roles in regulating gene expression. RBPs can interact with messenger RNA to change when and where the genetic information is translated to protein. A recent publication from the laboratory of Professor Robert Singer sought to develop better tools to study RBPs.

In a paper published online on June 27 in iScience, corresponding author Robert H. Singer, Ph.D., lead author Jeetayu Biswas and colleagues developed a new tool, called MS2-TRIBE. In addition to improving the study of RBPs, MS2-TRIBE offered important insights into assessing how DNA is organized. By studying RNA editing as it occurs at transcription sites within the nucleus, MS2-TRIBE revealed that RNAs from multiple chromosomes come in contact with each other and intermingle before exiting the nucleus and entering the cytoplasm. Tumors hijack RBPs to promote their survival, and better tools for understanding RBPs and their functions could lead to strategies for treating or preventing cancer.

Dr. Singer is professor and co-chair of anatomy and structural biology, as well as co-director of the Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center and of the Integrated Imaging Program at Einstein. He also is professor in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience and of cell biology and the Harold and Muriel Block Chair in anatomy & structural biology at Einstein. Jeetayu Biswas is an MSTP student in the Singer laboratory at Einstein.