"Recoding of UGA as Selenocysteine, the 21st Amino Acid""

I have a longstanding interest in elucidating molecular mechanisms that control posttranscriptional gene expression, specifically the processes of mRNA editing, selenoprotein synthesis, and translational regulation. The NIH has continuously funded my research program for 25 years. My laboratory is one of the few in the world investigating the mechanism and regulation of selenoprotein synthesis at the molecular, biochemical, and cellular levels. We are at the forefront of using innovative approaches to identify and characterize the mRNA sequences and trans-acting proteins that direct selenocysteine incorporation in mammalian cells or regulate this process. Through collaborations, we moved some of our pioneering basic science discoveries into the translational arena by defining the molecular basis underlying the phenotypes of patients with genetic SBP2 deficiency and characterizing defects in SBP2 knockout mice.

Contact

  Margaret Weber
  maw71@psu.edu
  814-865-7697