In: Biology
Please describe Dr. James E. Darnell s’ research work in the understanding of RNA transcription modification events
Dr. Darnell studied RNA synthesis, processing, and their transcriptional regulation. He investigated and discovered first processing RNAs (rRNA and tRNA) and also polyA tails in mRNAs. The presence of polyA tails was considered as a strong indication of pre-mRNA processing. He discovered the event of splicing by working on nuclear RNA copied from adenovirus DNA. He highlighted the role of RNAPII complex in pre-mRNA processing as processing proteins binds to the carboxyl-terminal domain of the largest RNAPII subunit. Capping (the addition of an m7Gppp residue) to the pre-mRNA molecule occurs.
He speculated that altering cytokine release modifies cell behavior by regulating the expression of specific genes. He researched on interferons, which is known to stimulate several transcription factors and during that phase, he successfully cloned signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs). STATs proved crucial in certain developmental events in multicellular animals.