Integrative functional genomics
We are interested in utilizing several areas of RNA biology, translational, bioinformatics, and molecular biology to identify key oncogenic RBPs involved in transcriptomic alterations associated with disease states. For example, we have recently identified Argonaute 2 (AGO2) as a possible oncogenic RBP that can promote an HCC transcriptome in a RISC-independent manner. By utilizing transcriptomics, we are modeling how activated AGO2 preferentially affects mRNAs by enhancing their stability in HCCs driven by AGO2. We are now elucidating how AGO2 promotes HCC progression by directly interacting with mRNA targets independent of miRNAs.