A. Gregory Matera, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Genetics

Curriculum Vitae

Research: Molecular genetics of small RNP biogenesis

Our long term research interest is to understand the rules that govern the organization of eukaryotic nuclei and their consequences for gene expression. One of the emerging principles of nuclear organization is that subnuclear domains are associated with specific genetic loci and that these associations are dynamic and can change in response to cellular signals. Another emerging principle is that defects in central gene expression pathways (e.g. pre-messenger RNA splicing) are associated with genetic diseases that can have very tissue-specific phenotypes. Our studies fall at the interface between genetics and cell biology and are centered on the biogenesis of small nuclear RNPs (snRNPs), the molecular engines that carry out splicing. We seek to understand how these key macromolecular complexes are assembled within the cell and delivered to their proper subcellular compartments in order to perform their essential function.

 

Selected Publications

Shpargel K.B. and Matera A.G. (2005)
Gemin proteins are required for efficient assembly of Sm-class RNPs.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (in press).

Ospina J.K., Gonsalvez G.B., Bednenko J., Darzynkiewicz E., Gerace L. and Matera A.G. (2005)
Cross-talk between snurportin1 subdomains.
Molecular Biology of the Cell 16: 4660-4671. /

Narayanan U., Achsel T., Lührmann R. and Matera A.G. (2004)
Coupled in vitro import of UsnRNPs and SMN, the spinal muscular atrophy protein.
Molecular Cell 16: 223-234. /

Hebert M.D., Shpargel K.B., Ospina J.K., Tucker K.E. and Matera A.G. (2002)
Coilin methylation regulates nuclear body formation.
Developmental Cell 3: 329-337. /

Hebert M.D., Szymczyk P.W., Shpargel K.B. and Matera A.G. (2001)
Coilin forms the bridge between Cajal bodies and SMN, the Spinal Muscular Atrophy protein.
Genes & Development 15: 2720-2729. /