Research Interests

Transcriptional control of gene expression is crucial for adaptive microbial stress responses and governs cell state transitions that are fundamental to the development of multicellular organisms. Misregulation of transcription is associated with many genetic disorders including cancer in humans. RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) movement during transcription is influenced by RNA processing factors and chromatin regulators in ways that determine gene output and gene isoforms in eukaryotic cells; however, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Our research aims to define how environmental cues are integrated to regulate Pol II pausing and the ensuing transcription termination by a highly conserved 5`-3` exoribonuclease Xrn2. For this purpose, we employ a simple yeast model system and a multidisciplinary approach that includes genetics, genomics, protein biochemistry, and cell biology

Selected Publications

Folco HD et al., (2017) \\\”Untimely expression of gametogenic genes in vegetative cells causes uniparental disomy\\\” Nature 543(7643):126-130.

Sugiyama T et al., (2016) \\\”Enhancer of rudimentary cooperates with Mmi1 and conserved RNA processing factors to promote meiotic mRNA decay and facultative heterochromatin assembly\\\” Mol. Cell 61(5):747-59.

Chalamcharla VR et al., (2015) \\\”A conserved factor Dhp1/Rat1/Xrn2 triggers premature transcription termination and nucleates heterochromatin to promote gene silencing\\\” PNAS 112(51):15548-55.

Lee N et al., (2013) \\\”Mtr4-like protein coordinates nuclear RNA processing for heterochromatin assembly and for telomere maintenance\\\” Cell 155(5):1061-74.

Chalamcharla VR et al., (2010) \\\”Nuclear expression of a group II intron is consistent with spliceosomal intron ancestry\\\” Genes Dev. 24(8):827-836.