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Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station A5300
Austin, TX 78712-0165
Contact Information
Office: MBB: 2.234
Phone: 232-3418
Lab
Office: MBB 2.234BA
Phone: 232-3419
Fax: 232-3420
Alan M. Lambowitz
lambowitz@mail.utexas.edu
Director, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology
Mr. and Mrs. A. Frank Smith, Jr. and Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Regents Chairs in Molecular Biology
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Research GroupLambowitz Lab |
EducationBS, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, 1968 PhD, Yale University, 1972 Postdoctorate, University of Pennsylvania, Rockefeller University, National Institutes of Health (1973-76) |
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AwardsMember, National Academy of Sciences, 2004 Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, and Scienc, 2004 Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology, 2002 Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2001 UT Cooperative Society Award for Best Research Paper, 2000 American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1995 NIH Merit Award, 1993 |
Affiliations
Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology;
Catalytic RNAs and Retroelements: Structure, Function, Evolution and Practical Applications
Our laboratory studies gene expression, RNA splicing, catalytic RNAs, and retroviral genetic elements, including possible ancestors of the AIDS and leukemia viruses. We recently discovered a novel mechanism for site-specific DNA insertion used by autocatalytic group II introns. The nature of this mechanism suggests that group II introns might be used in new approaches for genetic engineering and gene therapy, applicable to a wide variety of diseases.
Research interests include: mechanisms of RNA catalysis, how proteins assist formation of RNA structure, mechanisms involved in intron mobility, the evolution of introns and splicing mechanisms, the origin of retroviruses and reverse transcription, and the development of novel methods for functional genomics and gene therapy.
Representative Publications
Mohr, S., Stryker, J., and Lambowitz, A.M. "A DEAD-box protein functions as an ATP-dependent RNA chaperone in group I intron splicing" Cell 109 (2002): 769-779.
Mohr, S., Matsuura, M., Perlman, P.S., and Lambowitz, A.M. "A DEAD-box protein by itself promotes group II intron splicing and reverse splicing by acting as an RNA chaperone." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 103 (2006): 3569-3574.
Noah, J.W., Park, S., Whitt, J.T., Perutka, J., Frey, W., and Lambowitz, A.M. "Atomic force microscopy reveals DNA bending during group II intron ribonucleoprotein particle integration into double-stranded DNA." Biochemistry 45 (2006): 12424-12435.
Paukstelis, P., Coon, R., Madabusi, L., Nowakowski, J., Monzingo, A., Robertus, J., and Lambowitz, A.M. "A tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase adapted to function in group I intron splicing by acquiring a new RNA binding surface" Mol. Cell 17 (2005): 417-428.
Perutka, J., Wang, W., Goerlitz, D., and Lambowitz, A.M. "Use of computer-designed group II introns to disrupt Escherichia coli DExH/D-box protein and DNA helicase genes" J. Mol. Biol. 336 (2004): 421-439.
Lambowitz, A.M., and Zimmerly, S. "Mobile group II introns" Annu. Rev. Genet. 38 (2004): 1-35.