Lucks Lab Unlocks the Secrets of RNA Switches

Apr 15, 2022By Amanda Morris

For the first time, a research team co-lead by Julius Lucks has demonstrated and visualized the process of RNA activation and deactivation. Using a simulation program known as ”reconstructing RNA dynamics from data” (or R2D2) that analyzes sample RNA behavior and position during the folding process to extrapolate the process itself, the team was able to create a visual reconstruction. Further analysis showed that gene activation occurs through a process called strand displacement, in which sections of RNA displace others in each strand. The results could have significant implications for targeted medical treatments and contamination detection in the environment. The results have been published in Nucleic Acids Research, and have been designated a breakthrough article for their impact on the field. Learn more here.