Feng Guo, PhD

Dr. Feng Guo's research focuses on the functions of RNA that extend far beyond coding for amino acid sequences. Dr. Guo's research group is interested in elucidating how non-coding RNAs function by forming defined three-dimensional structures and by interacting with proteins. In particular, they are investigating how a class of small RNAs (called microRNA or miRNA) is processed and used as guides for target recognition in RNA interference. The projects will be investigated using X-ray crystallography, biochemistry and in vitro evolution methods.

Gong M, Chen Y, Senturia R, Ulgherait M, Faller M, Guo F. Caspases cleave and inhibit the microRNA processing protein DiGeorge Critical Region 8. Protein Sci. 2012 Jun;21(6):797-808. Epub 2012 Apr 23

Barr I, Smith AT, Senturia R, Chen Y, Scheidemantle BD, Burstyn JN, Guo F. DiGeorge critical region 8 (DGCR8) is a double-cysteine-ligated heme protein. J Biol Chem. 2011 May 13;286(19):16716-25. Epub 2011 Mar 21.

Faller M, Toso D, Matsunaga M, Atanasov I, Senturia R, Chen Y, Zhou ZH, Guo F. DGCR8 recognizes primary transcripts of microRNAs through highly cooperative binding and formation of higher-order structures. RNA. 2010 Aug;16(8):1570-83. Epub 2010 Jun 17

Senturia R, Faller M, Yin S, Loo JA, Cascio D, Sawaya MR, Hwang D, Clubb RT, Guo F. Structure of the dimerization domain of DiGeorge critical region 8. Protein Sci. 2010 Jul;19(7):1354-65.

Faller M, Guo F. MicroRNA biogenesis: there's more than one way to skin a cat. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008 Nov;1779(11):663-7. Epub 2008 Aug 20