My current major area of work is to understand the molecular mechanisms that control eukaryotic mRNAs in the cytoplasm with a specific focus on the control of translation, mRNA localization and stability. We employ a variety of experimental models, primarily mammalian cells in culture. Current work focuses on trying to understand how RNP granules, such as P-bodies and stress granules assemble, their roles in regulating mRNA function in cells, and how perturbations of these assemblies can cause human disease. This work also includes studies of related mRNP granules in neurons and how pathological protein aggregates (such as tau) are actually RNP assemblies.
