Jeff Wilusz

Professor

Phone: 970-491-0652
Lab: 970-491-4881
Fax: 970-491-4941
Email: jeffrey.wilusz@colostate.edu

Degrees

• B.S., Cook College of Rutgers University
• PhD, Duke University

Research Interests

The current focus of my research is to decipher the mechanisms of mRNA turnover in mammalian cells. In 1999 we reported the development of an in vitro assay using HeLa cell cytoplasmic S100 extracts that faithfully reproduces many aspects of regulated deadenylation/turnover of mammalian mRNAs. This system has become the centerpiece of our research efforts. To date, we have used this in vitro approach to extensively characterize mRNA decay in human cells. Some notable findings include:

1. Identified PARN as the major deadenylase in HeLa extracts.
2. Discovered a novel, functionally important interaction between PARN and the mRNA cap, suggesting that recognition of both the 5' and 3' ends in important to initiate mRNA decay.
3. Isolated a novel, Dcp1/2p-like mRNA decapping activity in mammalian extracts that is regulated by cap binding proteins and the poly(A) tail.
4. Identified the 3'-to-5' decay mediated by a complex of exonucleases called the exosome as the major route of mRNA decay following deadenylation in Hela cytoplasmic extracts.
5. Uncovered a sequence-specific role for the exosome in rapid mRNA turnover mediated by AU-rich regulatory elements commonly found in the 3' UTR of short-lived mRNAs.