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Faculty
Andy Ellington
Professor in Chemistry & Biochemistry
Wilson M. and Kathryn Fraser Research Professor In Biochemistry

Email: andy.ellington@mail.utexas.edu
Website
Main Office: MBB 3.448B
Phone: 232-3424

Alternate Office: MBB 3.424
Alt. Phone: 471-6445

Mailing Address
The University of Texas at Austin - ICMB
2500 Speedway
MBB 3.448BA
Austin ,TX 78712-1095
Andy Ellington

Research Summary

The Ellington lab is primarily interesting in the evolutionary engineering of molecules, pathways, and organisms, and the application of these efforts to real world problems. In particular, we evolve functional RNA molecules that can function as diagnostic and therapeutic reagents, including RNA molecules that inhibit the replication of HIV-1 and tumor cells. We combine functional RNAs and other components into synthetic genetic circuits that can be used to control gene expression during gene therapy. We are also involved in the development of novel chimeras between biology and chemistry, including minimal replicators that can evolve outside of cells, light-dependent signal transduction pathways, and organisms that utilize unnatural amino acids in their proteomes.