Professor Ross Smith    Professor

	Biography

RNA trafficking in cells.

Our major interest is in the post-transcriptional control of gene expression. Our principal focus is currently on the molecular and cell biology of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A/B family of protein molecules. These fascinating multi-tasking proteins function in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. In the former location they are involved in control of trafficking and translation of mRNAs. In the nucleus they participate in such diverse processes as RNA packaging, telomere maintenance, alternative mRNA splicing, and RNA export. In all of these roles they recognise small cis-acting elements in the RNA or DNA molecules (Hoek et al., 1998; Munro et al., 1999).

For more information, see Research Interests…

	Keywords
	Medical: Gene Expression, Science and Technology: Cellular Biology, Science and Technology: Molecular Biology