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Angie Hilliker

Associate Professor of Biology, University of Richmond
A cell constantly alters the expression of its genes (and thus the proteins it makes) in order to respond to its environment or change its function. Gene expression can be modulated at many levels, from the birth of a messenger RNA (mRNA) to its destruction. Once it enters the cytoplasm, an mRNA can have various fates? it can be translated, translationally repressed, or degraded. The function of the mRNA is dictated by the proteins that associate with it to form an mRNP (mRNA-protein complex). For example, a translating mRNA associates with the ribosome, which will use the mRNA to make a protein. Alternatively, a non-translating mRNA associates with translational repressors or decay factors that sequester the mRNA from the ribosome or destroy the mRNA. The mRNP composition is dynamic, which allows the mRNA to move among translation, storage, or decay complexes. Dr. Hilliker's lab studies how mRNPs alter their composition to change the translatability of the mRNA. She uses budding yeast and a combination of genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry to understand how a cell determines the fate of an mRNA. This type of regulation of translation is important in all cells, but is especially important early in development, during stress, and in learning and memory.

Customizing mRNA is easy, and that's what makes it the next frontier for personalized medicine − a molecular biologist explains

Dec 13, 2023 13:47 pm UTC| Science

While using mRNA as medicine is new, mRNA has been inside you for your entire life. The cells in your body create mRNAs that serve as instructions to make specific proteins you need to function. Researchers can create new...

Economy

Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance

Russian stocks closed mixed after Saturdays trading session on the Moscow Exchange, with the benchmark MOEX Russia Index finishing unchanged at 0.00%. Despite the flat headline performance, individual stocks showed varied...

Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen

Global financial markets ended Friday on a weaker note as major stock indexes declined, led by a sharp selloff in technology shares amid renewed skepticism over artificial intelligence investments. Rising U.S. Treasury...

Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026

The Federal Reserves latest policy signals suggest that interest rates are now close to neutral, raising the bar for additional rate cuts in 2025 and beyond. This shift implies restraint rather than rescue from the central...

S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally

U.S. stocks closed sharply lower on Friday as a selloff in technology shares, led by semiconductor companies, weighed heavily on broader markets and dampened enthusiasm around the artificial intelligence trade. The...

Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly said she supported cutting interest rates at this weeks Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, highlighting the central banks effort to carefully balance...

Politics

Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant

A federal judge has ruled that prosecutors must return evidence seized from a key figure connected to the now-dismissed criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, while allowing the U.S. Department of Justice...

Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says

Ukraines navy has accused Russia of deliberately targeting a civilian Turkish cargo vessel with a drone attack in the Black Sea, escalating concerns over maritime security and the safety of international shipping routes....

U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission

Two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed on Saturday during an Islamic State (ISIS) attack in Palmyra, Syria, according to an official statement from the Pentagon. The attack occurred while U.S. forces...

International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran

International human rights organizations have strongly condemned the re-arrest of Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, sparking renewed global concern over freedom of expression and human rights in Iran....

Belarus Pledges to Halt Smuggling Balloons Into Lithuania

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pledged to take action to stop weather balloons used by cigarette smugglers from crossing into Lithuania, according to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trumps envoy, John...

Science

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Achieves Breakthrough Success With First NASA Mission

Blue Origins massive New Glenn rocket marked a major milestone as it completed its first mission for paying customers, sending two NASA satellites toward Mars and successfully landing its reusable booster at sea. The...

Cogent Biosciences Soars 120% on Breakthrough Phase 3 Results for Bezuclastinib in GIST Treatment

Cogent Biosciences (NASDAQ: COGT) shares skyrocketed over 120% after the biotech company announced groundbreaking results from its Phase 3 PEAK trial evaluating bezuclastinib in combination with sunitinib for patients with...

Trump and Merck KGaA Partner to Slash IVF Drug Costs and Expand Fertility Coverage

U.S. President Donald Trump and German pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA have announced a groundbreaking deal aimed at lowering the cost of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments while boosting access to fertility care in...

Technology

SpaceX Insider Share Sale Values Company Near $800 Billion Amid IPO Speculation

SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, has reportedly authorized an insider share sale that places its valuation at approximately $800 billion, according to a Bloomberg News report published Friday. The move...

Mizuho Raises Broadcom Price Target to $450 on Surging AI Chip Demand

Mizuho Securities has raised its price target on Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO), highlighting accelerating momentum in the companys artificial intelligence business and a rapidly expanding long-term backlog. The brokerage...

Trello Outage Disrupts Users as Access Issues Hit Atlassian’s Work Management Platform

Atlassian Corps popular work management software Trello experienced a service disruption on Friday, leaving a number of users unable to access the platform. The outage was flagged by internet monitoring service...

Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools Raises U.S. National Security Concerns

Intel has tested advanced chipmaking equipment this year from ACM Research, a semiconductor toolmaker with deep operational ties to China, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move has drawn scrutiny because...

Moore Threads Stock Slides After Risk Warning Despite 600% Surge Since IPO

Moore Threads Technology Co Ltd (SS:688795), a Chinese graphics chipmaker often described as Chinas potential rival to NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), saw its share price fall sharply on Friday after the company issued a...