RATA: A method for high-throughput identification of RNA bound transcription factors.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate critical cellular processes and their dysregulation contributes to multiple diseases. Although only a few lncRNAs have defined mechanisms, many of these characterized lncRNAs interact with transcription factors to regulate gene expression, suggesting a common mechanism of action. Identifying RNA-bound transcription factors is especially challenging due to inefficient RNA immunoprecipitation and low abundance of many transcription factors.

Differential Regulation of the Melanoma Proteome by eIF4A1 and eIF4E.

Small molecules and antisense oligonucleotides that inhibit the translation initiation factors eIF4A1 and eIF4E have been explored as broad-based therapeutic agents for cancer treatment, based on the frequent upregulation of these two subunits of the eIF4F cap-binding complex in many cancer cells. Here, we provide support for these therapeutic approaches with mechanistic studies of eIF4F-driven tumor progression in a preclinical model of melanoma. Silencing eIF4A1 or eIF4E decreases melanoma proliferation and invasion.

Process evaluation of an environmental walking and healthy eating pilot in small rural worksites.

Small Steps are Easier Together (SS) was a pilot environmental intervention in small rural worksites in Upstate New York in collaboration with Extension educators. Worksite leaders teamed with co-workers to select and implement environmental changes to increase walking steps over individual baseline and to choose healthy eating options over 10 weeks. Participants were 226 primarily white, women employees in 5 sites.

The DExD/H box ATPase Dhh1 functions in translational repression, mRNA decay, and processing body dynamics.

Translation, storage, and degradation of messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) are key steps in the posttranscriptional control of gene expression, but how mRNAs transit between these processes remains poorly understood. In this paper, we functionally characterized the DExD/H box adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) Dhh1, a critical regulator of the cytoplasmic fate of mRNAs. Using mRNA tethering experiments in yeast, we showed that Dhh1 was sufficient to move an mRNA from an active state to translational repression.