Laura Gonzalez Garcia, Ph.D.

Research

My research will explore the unique differences in how an RNA modification, called DHU, influences mRNA stability and turnover in plants and humans. This modification and the protein responsible for it, DUS, are poorly studied but deeply conserved. In human cancer, DUS is dysregulated, whereas in plants, changes in DUS influence stress survival and how well plants perform photosynthesis. Little is known about this protein and how it impacts mRNA biology in the context of transcription and translation. Using cutting-edge techniques in machine learning, transcriptomics, and mass spectrometry, I will uncover an atlas of protein partners and mRNA targets that will aid in understanding how this modification regulates RNA activity. This work could reveal insights into how plants respond to stress, thereby influencing yield in crops, as well as provide a deeper understanding of how this modification leads to cancer development in humans.