Prof. Jeffrey Gerst

My lab mainly studies the cell biology of RNA, namely how mRNA trafficking and localization are regulated and control basic cellular processes and cell physiology (e.g. protein translation, polarized growth, chemotaxis, mitochondria and peroxisome function, cell fusion, etc.). We use a wide variety of techniques, including fluorescence microscopy, RNA tagging and pull-downs, mass spectrometry, RNA-seq, whole translatome analysis, and genetic and biochemical techniques to understand the mechanisms involved. Our work shows that mRNA trafficking and localized translation form a critical layer of organization within the cell responsible for protein localization and function. We also show that mammalian cells share full-length mRNAs and lncRNAs between themselves using membrane nanotubes, and that this intercellular transfer can affect the physiology of downstream cells. This process may be harnessed in the future for the complementation of genetic disorders in humans. Other applicative work involves using RNA motifs to enhance the bioproduction of proteins for medical purposes.