Departmental Seminar: Dr. Jeff Kieft

Event Date: 11.16.2015 Day: Monday Time: 12:00 pm Location: 601 Fairchild Event Type: Departmental

Dr. Jeff Kieft

School of Medicine

University of Colorado

Title: "Structured Viral RNAs and the Art of Molecular Warfare

Abstract:

We are interested in how the remarkable structural diversity of RNA confers the ability to perform its many biological functions. In particular, our research is focused on viral RNAs. Many viruses use structured RNAs to co-opt, manipulate, or alter the behavior of cellular machines. By studying these elegant viral RNA-dependent processes, we learn about the basic tenets of RNA structure, the fundamental workings of the cellular machinery, and the molecular basis of virus-induced disease. Viral RNAs are a “window” into the greater RNA world. To understand diverse viral RNAs, we use a combination of high-resolution structure determination, biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology and virology. Our goal is to understand how the atomic-level details of an RNA structure allow it to fold and recognize its cellular target, how this alters the target, and how this leads to disease. More recently, we have become particularly interested in how programmed conformational dynamics and RNA structural plasticity may confer “multifunctionality” in a viral RNA, or how modulation of RNA tertiary structure may provide subtle means of regulation. In this presentation, I present some of our latest discoveries in the area of viral RNA structure and function.