Arango Lab
Principal Investigator: Daniel Arango
Institution: Northwestern University (Chicago, IL)
Primary Subfield: Molecular & Cell Bio
Recruitment Status: Inquire for rotation/fellowship opportunities
Research Focus
Project Summary/Abstract My research program investigates how the epitranscriptome regulates protein synthesis and how this interplay affects cell fate decisions under normal homeostasis and stress conditions. The epitranscriptome is the collection of more than 150 chemical modifications that occur on RNA molecules and influence all steps of gene expression. One such step is the translation of mRNAs - the process by which the information stored in DNA is converted into functional proteins. Though translation typically initiates at an optimal 'AUG' start codon, the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) can harbor cryptic initiation sites. These cryptic sites result in upstream Open Reading Frames (uORFs) that generally regulate the expression of canonical proteins but can also produce new minipeptides with diverse biological functions. Importantly, these uORFs are not merely errors in translation but serve as regulatory mechanisms typically co-opted by cells when exposed to stress conditions. Hence, understanding how cells harness the noncanonical mechanisms of translation to their advantage remains a fundamental question in biology. My published and preliminary studies demonstrate that di…
Active NIH Awards
- 5R35GM159598-02: Regulation of translation initiation by the epitranscriptome (2026)
- 1R35GM159598-01: Regulation of translation initiation by the epitranscriptome (2025)
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