Post-transcriptional mechanisms have the potential to influence complex changes in gene expression, yet their role in regulating tumor initiation and progression remains largely unexplored.

The goal of my research is to understand how post-transcriptional mechanisms govern self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity of cancer stem cells in diverse contexts. During my postdoctoral work, I identified the RNA processing protein Nudt21, as a crucial regulator of cellular reprogramming. Nudt21 stabilizes cell identity by directing alternative polyadenylation (APA), which generates distinct 3’ UTR isoforms for a given transcript by using different polyA sites. Additionally, I recently uncove...

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Post-transcriptional mechanisms have the potential to influence complex changes in gene expression, yet their role in regulating tumor initiation and progression remains largely unexplored.

The goal of my research is to understand how post-transcriptional mechanisms govern self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity of cancer stem cells in diverse contexts. During my postdoctoral work, I identified the RNA processing protein Nudt21, as a crucial regulator of cellular reprogramming. Nudt21 stabilizes cell identity by directing alternative polyadenylation (APA), which generates distinct 3’ UTR isoforms for a given transcript by using different polyA sites. Additionally, I recently uncovered a potent post-transcriptional mechanism that governs cell fate by linking the RNA helicase Ddx6 to chromatin organization via the modulation of P-body homeostasis.

To address how Nudt21 and Ddx6 influence oncogenesis, my laboratory will investigate their role in cancer stem cell self-renewal and differentiation in diverse contexts by applying powerful genetic tools and innovative technology.

Specifically, in the first project, we will characterize how Nudt21 controls lung cancer stem cell tumorigenicity. In the second project, we will investigate the role of Ddx6 in normal hematopoiesis and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Baylor College of Medicine is an ideal place to establish my laboratory and develop the proposed research projects. I have already coordinated potential collaborations within the Duncan Cancer Center and the STaR center.

The immediate goal of this proposal is to determine how Nudt21 and Ddx6 contribute to tumorigenesis. In the medium-term, we will narrow down key downstream targets of Nudt21 and Ddx6 responsible to limit growth and metastasis. In the long-term, this research will broaden our understanding of the role of RNA binding proteins in oncogenesis and will open new avenues for cancer treatments.

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