Dr. Torabi is studying a highly abundant cellular long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) called MALAT1 (metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1), which serves as a prognostic factor in several human cancers. MALAT1 is stabilized via formation of a complex triplex structure called expression and nuclear retention element (ENE). He aims to identify additional MALAT1-like ENEs in the genome through an in vitro evolutionary process in combination with bioinformatics studies. Novel ENEs may facilitate the discovery of novel cancer biomarkers and a better understanding of MALAT1 accumulation in cancer cells.
Damon Runyon Researchers
Meet Our Scientists
Seyed Fakhreddin Torabi, PhD
Project title: "Evolution of triplex-forming RNAs from random sequences: a search for additional MALAT1-like triplex motifs"
Institution: Yale University
Named Award: Robert Black Fellow
Award Program: Fellow
Sponsor(s) / Mentor(s): Joan Steitz, PhD
Cancer Type: Breast
Research Area: RNA (RNA processing, miRNA and piRNA mechanisms, enzymatic RNAs, etc.)
