RNAs are remarkably versatile molecules with diverse biological roles. This functional versatility is achieved through RNA's ability to both encode genetic information and form complex 3D structures. We employ cryo-EM and other structural biology tools to study how RNAs acquire functional 3D structures and to understand their role in essential cellular and viral processes. Relevant publications

RNA 3D structures exist as dynamic multi-state conformational ensembles, and this is crucial for their function. Dissecting RNA conformational ensembles is essential for understanding important cellular and viral processes, especially for highly dynamic RNA 3D structures. We combine structural, biophysical, and computational tools to visualize important conformational changes and understand function.

The conformational behavior of an RNA is encoded in its sequence. We want to understand how RNA sequence determines structure-function relationships and how these sequences have evolved to regulate important cellular and viral processes. We develop high-throughput methods to investigate RNA structure-function relationships across sequence space.

Ultimately, we are interested in understanding biological function. We use what we learn from our structural and biophysical studies to design functional assays that allow us to dissect biological mechanisms. We are particularly interested in processes regulated by dynamic, multifunctional RNA structures in viral genomes.