Molecular characterization of interactions between subviral RNAs and their hosts

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RNA is rising rapidly to the central stage of current biology, fuelled by the continuing discoveries of its roles in various biological processes. Because RNA viruses use specific RNA motifs to recruit host proteins for their own life cycle, they have led to many landmark contributions. These RNA-protein interactions are particularly crucial for subviral RNAs, which are the smallest known infectious RNAs and rely heavily on host proteins for their replication and propagation. My laboratory studies plant viroids and the hepatitis delta virus (HDV), as simple systems to investigate RNA motifs and their association with cellular proteins. Due to their extremely limited genetic information, their RNA genomes provide specific activities and motifs for recruiting and triggering host proteins needed for their replication and propagation. My objectives are to identify these proteins and to characterize these RNA-protein interactions at the molecular level. By integrating structural, genetic, cellular, biochemical, molecular, and bioinformatic approaches, this research program is aimed at answering the intriguing questions about the life cycle of Subviral RNAs and lead to a better understanding of both eukaryotic cells and RNA metabolism.