About the Speaker:

Sarah Keane graduated from Furman University with a B.S. in Chemistry (2007). Under the direction of David Giedroc, she received a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Indiana University (2012). Sarah then accepted a postdoctoral position with Michael Summers at The University of Maryland Baltimore County. Sarah joined the University of Michigan in January 2017 with a joint appointment in the Biophysics and Chemistry departments. The Keane lab is interested in uncovering the structures and mechanisms of biologically relevant noncoding RNAs using NMR spectroscopy complemented with other biochemical and biophysical tools.

About the Colloquium:

Title:

RNA structure and conformational changes underlying the regulation of microRNA biogenesis.

Abstract:

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. To maintain proper microRNA expression levels, the enzymatic processing of primary and precursor microRNA elements must be strictly controlled. However, the molecular determinants underlying this strict regulation of microRNA biogenesis are not fully understood. We are interested in uncovering how RNA structure, dynamics, and recruitment of protein binding partners serves to control the Drosha and/or Dicer processing of miRNA transcripts. Using solution NMR spectroscopy, coupled with enzymatic assays, we are able to dissect the contribution of various structural features to the regulation of processing. Additionally, using a structure-guided approach, we are exploring the potential of small molecules to modulate the processing of miRNA transcripts.