RNA molecules are intimately involved in the fundamental cellular processes, such as in protein synthesis, RNA processing, protein transport, and chromosome-end replication. Some RNA molecules, termed as ribozymes, can act as biocatalysts without the help of any protein cofactors. RNAs have also been utilized as therapeutic targets and as therapeutic molecules. Such a functional diversity implies structural complexity once thought to be the domains of protein molecules.

My laboratory is interested in understanding the chemical principles, which govern the complexity of RNA structure and how that relates to its function. Working towards that goal we will study the chemical basis of RNA-RNA, RNA-protein and RNA-ligand interactions. Furthermore, we would like to use RNA as therapeutic targets and utilize its plasticity to develop novel therapeutic molecules.

We will utilize the tools of synthetic organic chemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology to achieve these objectives.

Recent Publications:

1." Intravesical Antisense Therapy for Cystitis Using TAT-Peptide Nucleic Acid Conjugates", Tyagi, P., Banerjee, R., Basu, S., Yoshimura, N., Chancellor, M. & Huang, L. (2006). Molecular Pharmaceutics 3, 398-406 .

2."Analysis of the Ribozyme Structure/Function by Nucleotide Analog Interference Mapping (NAIM)", Basu, S., Pazsint, C. and Chowdhury, G. (2004), Methods in Molecular Biology: Catalytic Nucleic Acid Protocols, M. Sioud (Ed.), Humana Press.

3."Identification of specific monovalent metal ion binding sites within RNA" Basu, S., and Strobel, S. A., (2001), Methods, 23, 264-275.

4."Direct detection of specific monovalent metal ion binding to a DNA G-quartet by Tl-205 NMR". Basu, S., Szewczak, A, Cocco, M, and Strobel, S.A., (2000), J. Am. Chem. Soc.,122, 3240-3241.

5."Thiophilic metal ion rescue of phosphorothioate interference within the Tetrahymena ribozyme P4-P6 domain". Basu, S., and Strobel, S. A., (1999), RNA, 5, 1399-1407.

6."A specific monovalent metal ion integral to the A-A platform of the RNA tetraloop receptor". Basu, S., Rambo, R. P., Cate, J. H., Ferré-D´Amarre, A R., Strobel, S. A. and Doudna, J. A. (1998), Nat. Struct. Biol., 5, 986-992.

7."Synthesis and characterization of a Peptide Nucleic Acid conjugated to a D-peptide analog of insulin-like growth factor 1 for increased cellular uptake." Basu, S., and Wickstrom, E., (1997), Bioconjugate Chem., 8, 411-418.