Protein-RNA interactions in antiviral cellular defence and inflammation

Protein-RNA interactions are integral to cellular biology – both in normal cellular function and also in cells subject to the stresses of viral invasion. Proteins are responsible for the detection of viral RNA, and initiation of the innate immune response. Proteins direct post-transcriptional regulation of cytokines produced as a result of cellular stress, and are responsible for preventing their over-expression. In some cases, cellular proteins that normally function in translational control are hijacked by viral RNA as part of the viral mechanism of replication in the cell. Underlying each of these types molecular events are intricate and specialised molecular interactions. Their understanding would greatly advance our knowledge of antiviral cellular defence and potentially lead to new means to combat virus-related disease and inflammatory disorders. Our lab has specialised in the study of protein-RNA interactions, using biophysical and structural tools to better understand the basis for their affinity, specificity and conformational consequences underlying their mechanism of action. Our objective is to delineate specific protein-RNA systems relevant to antiviral cellular defence.