Fátima Gebauer
Research and Interests
Dr. Gebauer is interested in the regulation of mRNA translation by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and by elongation of the mRNA poly(A) tail. This type of regulation is widely used in Biology to modulate processes such as metabolism, cell differentiation, embryonic patterning or synaptic transmission. She wishes to understand in particular the molecular mechanisms of translational control and the RNA networks that are established to maintain cell homeostasis, as well as how de-regulation of RBP function leads to disease, in particular to cancer (glioma, melanoma, colon and ovarian).
Expertise and Capabilities
Gebauer’s lab uses a combination of standard and specialized techniques to study mRNA translation and RNA-protein interactions in mammalian cells and Drosophila, including:
- High-throughput technologies such as individual-nucleotide resolution Cross-Linking and ImmunoPrecipitation (iCLIP), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), transcriptome analysis and ribosome profiling.
- Poly(ribo)some profiling (rarely available in standard labs).
- Drosophila cell-free systems for efficient polyadenylation and translation of mRNAs.
- Large-scale isolation of Drosophila embryos (only available in very few labs too).
The group has produced an often-demanded rabbit polyclonal antibody against the C-terminal fragment of Drosophila UNR protein, as described in Abaza et al. (2006). "Drosophila UNR is required for translational repression of male-specific lethal 2 mRNA during regulation of X-chromosome dosage compensation." Genes Dev. Feb 1; 20(3):380-9, which for the time being is only distributed through an MTA.
Additional Information
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