RNA and Cancer
The ‘RNA and Cancer’ temporary tattoo was designed for the Kouzarides lab group to represent their research as part of the Tattoo my Science project.
RNA and Cancer
DNA is the set of instructions that tells cells how to function. RNA is the working copy. RNA can be modified throughout the life of a cell. We are interested in the differences in RNA modification between normal cells and cancer cells.
Our goal is to understand what the modifications do to RNA and how they affect the RNA’s activity. We hope to use this information to develop new treatments that can target and stop the growth of cancer cells.
The design forms part of the logo for Storm Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotechnology company founded by Tony Kouzarides and Eric Miska.
Kouzarides Lab Group
Epigenetic modifications and cancer
DNA exists in the cell nucleus wrapped around histone proteins to form chromatin. The DNA and histones are decorated with many types of covalent chemical modifications, which can affect transcription and other cellular processes. In addition, non-coding RNAs that regulate chromatin function can be similarly chemically modified. Our lab is involved in characterising the pathways that mediate and control DNA, RNA and histone modifications. We try to understand the cellular processes they regulate, their mechanism of action and their involvement in cancer.
Meet Tony Kouzarides
In this video Tony explains his groundbreaking work on chromatin and its associated modifying enzymes. His research has led to potential new cancer therapeutics and two spinout companies.
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