The Wedekind lab investigates the mechanisms of action of non-protein-coding (nc)RNAs. Our goal is to understand the principles by which these molecules gain biological function, which is widely applicable to human disease, as well as the identification of new antimicrobial targets. Model systems include small ribozymes derived from plant viroids, and metabolite sensing riboswitches from bacteria that regulate gene expression. This work is funded by NIH/NIGMS grant R01 GM063162.
We also study the DNA editing enzyme APOBEC3G (A3G), which is an innate anti-HIV-1 factor expressed in CD4+ T cells. Our goal is to elucidate structures of A3G in complex with HIV-1 proteins. Our long-term goal is to develop therapeutics that make A3G more potent in its ability to block viral infectivity. This work is funded by NIH/NIAID grant R33 AI076085.
Our lab primarily employs X-ray crystallography. We greatly acknowledge NIH/NCRR award S10 RR026501 for supporting this instrumentation. For access or further information see:
http://dbb.urmc.rochester.edu/bcbp/facilities/bsb_facility.htm
