Powers Lab
Principal Investigator: Alvin C Powers
Institution: Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, TN)
Primary Subfield: Molecular & Cell Bio
Recruitment Status: Inquire for rotation/fellowship opportunities
Research Focus
RNA editing, a fundamental cellular process, involves the deamination of some adenosines in RNA to inosines, by the adenosine deaminases Adar1 (ADAR) and Adar2 (ADARB1). Recent studies have shown that a critical role of RNA editing is to disrupt double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) structures that are generated by retroelements inserted in the genome in an inverted orientation within expressed genes. The dsRNA formed by such sequence configurations is a powerful and dangerous activator of the ancient antiviral interferon response, which may lead to pathogenic inflammation. While RNA editing has been studied in the context of some organs and in cancer, very little is known about the role of ADAR enzymes in islet cell function and health. Our goal is to elucidate the role of RNA editing in islets, and particularly in alpha and beta cells. Strikingly, GWAS studies of type 1 diabetes (T1D) have revealed protective variants of IFIH1/MDA5, a cytosolic receptor that recognizes double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from either viral or endogenous origins, and elicits an inflammatory response. Thus, defective RNA editing can in principle contribute to the islet anti-viral response which precedes autoimmunity.…
Active NIH Awards
- 5R01DK133442-04: RNA editing in islet function and inflammation (2026)
- 3R01DK133442-04S2: RNA editing in islet function and inflammation (2026)
- 3R01DK133442-04S1: RNA editing in islet function and inflammation (2026)
- 5P30DK020593-49: Vanderbilt Diabetes Research Center (2026)
- 5P30DK020593-49: Administrative Core (2026)
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