Claudia Ribeiro de Almeida
Our goal is to define the emerging role of RNA and RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in controlling B cell development and the diversification of antibody genes.
We are interested in decoding the molecular mechanisms underlying diversification of antibody genes, to gain insight into how B cells can effectively fight infections, how these responses change through our lives and the role this plays in age-related immune dysfunction.
Our research focuses on the role of RNA and RBPs as regulators of DNA deletion-recombination mechanisms occurring at antibody genes. Previous findings on the RNA helicase DDX1 have shown that RBPs can directly regulate RNA function and be part of antibody gene recombination mechanisms (Ribeiro de Almeida et al, 2018). Other RBPs have been shown to control different steps of mRNA metabolism, thereby causing gene expression changes that accompany B cell developmental-stage transitions when antibody genes diversification occurs. RBPs are important to regulate RNA fate and function, and our understanding of their roles in B cells is only emerging.
We use a number of cellular and molecular biology tools together with mouse genetics, cellular model systems and in vitro biochemical assays, to investigate the function of RBPs in B cells. We also employ state-of-the-art genomics and proteomics approaches to identify novel RBPs important for developmental stages when B cells undergo recombination mechanisms at their antibody genes.
Latest Publications
Biosynthesis of histone messenger RNA employs a specific 3' end endonuclease. eLife, 7, 2050-084X, 2018 PMID: 30507380 |
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Deregulated Expression of Mammalian lncRNA through Loss of SPT6 Induces R-Loop Formation, Replication Stress, and Cellular Senescence. Molecular cell, 72, 1097-4164, 2018 PMID: 30449723 |
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RNA Helicase DDX1 Converts RNA G-Quadruplex Structures into R-Loops to Promote IgH Class Switch Recombination. Molecular cell, 70, 1097-4164, 2018 PMID: 29731414 |