James E. Dahlberg
 |
Professor
Office: (608) 262-1459 |
Education
- BA 1962, Haverford College;
- PhD 1966, University of Chicago;
- Postdoctoral 1966-68, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge (F. Sanger), 1968-69, Universite de Geneve (R. Epstein).
Honors & Awards
- Eli Lilly Award for Biol. Chem., 1974;
- H.I. Romnes Faculty Research Fellowship, 1976;
- Haverford College Philips Visitor, 1977, 1998;
- Macy Scholar Award, 1979-80;
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1982;
- Frederick Sanger Professorship, 1991;
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1993;
- National Academy of Sciences, 1996;
- U. Chicago Alumni Achievement Award, 1992;
- American Academy of Microbiologists, 1997;
- President, RNA Society, 1997;
- U.W. Hilldale Professor, 1997;
- Buzzati-Traverso Award for Molecular Biology, Italian Nat. Res. Council, 1998;
- NIH Merit Award, 1998;
- European Molecular Biology Organization, Foreign Associate, 1998;
- Hilldale Award, 2002;
- Distinguished Service Award, University of Chicago, 2003.
Research Interests
Our research centers on the mechanisms by which RNAs and proteins are moved between the nucleus and cytoplasm. We have focused on control of Ran-GTP dependent transport of RNAs from the nucleus and on mechanisms that are used to monitor RNA integrity during export. The primary experimental systems that we use are microinjection into X. laevis oocytes, transport in permeabilized tissue culture cells and processing of RNAs in vitro.
Nuclear export is often coupled to the proofreading of RNAs or RNPs, to ensure that they are mature and have been processed correctly. For example, we found that tRNAs undergo aminoacylation within the nucleus, a modification that contributes to efficient export. Also, we showed that export of 60S ribosomal subunits requires a protein that shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. We propose that this protein, which binds only to mature 60S subunits, acts as an adapter between these particles and their export receptor, ensuring that only correctly assembled subunits are exported.
Recently, we defined features that are required for efficient nuclear export and processing of precursors of microRNAs, small RNAs that control the function and stability messenger RNAs. Currently, we are studying the mechanisms by which pre-microRNAs are matured and transported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and how these events are controlled.
Publications of Note
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University
of Wisconsin - Department
of Biomolecular Chemistry
First published: 01/01/05 Last updated:
1/18/05 Email Biomolecular Chemistry
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