Welcome to the Patel Lab
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Rutgers University
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
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The overarching goal of our research is to understand viral RNA recognition by the RIG-I family of innate immune receptors and mechanisms of mitochondrial RNA and DNA polymerases.
We use multidisciplinary approaches including structural, biochemical, biophysical, cell biology, and computational methods to quantify the elementary steps of the biological processes. Current research projects include understanding (i) the role of transcription factors in human mitochondrial DNA transcription, (ii) cooperativity between DNA polymerase and helicase enzymes for mitochondrial DNA replication, and (ii) viral RNA recognition and autoinhibition mechanisms of RIG-I like immune receptors. We are particularly interested in understanding the mechanistic basis of disease-causing mutants involved in the above processes. Our research has applications in biotechnology and therapeutics. |
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Patel Lab Projects
RNA binding mechanism of RIG-I