Every cell in an individual has the same set of genes, yet different cell types have very distinct characteristics. In addition, cells need to respond to environmental stimuli like nutrient availability or pathogen infection. Such dramatic changes in cell behavior are made possible by molecular mechanisms that govern gene expression within a cell. The overarching goal of the Conrad Lab is to define the mechanisms that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression in the human cell nucleus.
We study posttranscriptional gene regulation in the context of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. KSHV is an important human pathogen that causes Kaposi’s sarcoma and lymphoproliferative disorders in immunocompromised individuals. Like all viruses, KSHV usurps critical components of the cellular gene expression machinery to ensure its propagation and potentially cause disease. Therefore, an understanding of the molecular interactions between a virus and its host cell is necessary to develop strategies to combat viruses. Yet this is not the only reason to study virology. The history of molecular biology demonstrates that we gain considerable insight into human cell biology by examining virus-host interactions. By studying viral factors, we seek to learn about essential mechanisms of human pathogens and to gain insights into the basic biology of human cells.
The projects in the lab are rooted in our investigations of control of nuclear RNA stability by KSHV. However, our work on RNA decay has led us into studies of RNA polyadenylation, export, transcription elongation, and regulation of gene expression by intron retention. As such, we have widespread interests in the RNA biology that controls KSHV and human gene expression.