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Faculty
Arlen Johnson
Professor In Molecular Genetics & Microbiology

Email: arlen@mail.utexas.edu
Website
Main Office: NMS 1.126
Phone: 475-6350

Alternate Office: NMS 1.246
Alt. Phone: 475-9729

Mailing Address
The University of Texas at Austin - ICMB
1 University Station A5000
100 E. 24th St.
Austin ,TX 78712-1095
Arlen Johnson

Research Summary

My lab studies ribosome export and mRNA degradation in yeast. We use techniques spanning genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry and proteomics. Recently, we identified the nuclear export pathway for the large ribosomal subunit. This pathway depends on Crm1p, the receptor for leucine-rich nuclear export signals, and the 60S-binding protein Nmd3p that acts as an adapter for export. Current work involves characterization of the export complex, characterization of the nascent 60S subunit at different stages of nuclear export and regulation of the export pathway. Our work on mRNA degradation has focused on the enzymes responsible for 5’ and 3’-degradation. We have recently shown that inhibition of the 3’-pathway by cis acting elements within an mRNA is sufficient for efficient translation of poly(A) minus mRNA in wild-type cells. Current work examines the biochemical function of the heterotrimeric Ski2/3/8 complex required for 3’-decay and the functional and physical interaction of this decay system with other decay pathways and with the translation apparatus.