Elizabeth Trofimenkoff, Ph.D. student

Marc Roussel lab – University of Lethbridge (Canada)

Mathematical modeling of eIF5B-mediated non-canonical translation initiation as a chemotherapeutic target

Under hypoxic conditions, which is observed in cancer cells, cap-dependent translation initiation is disrupted via the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2- (eIF2). However, cancer cells can exploit a non-canonical pathway that replaces eIF2 with eIF5B for initiator tRNA delivery to the ribosome, resulting in the synthesis of antiapoptotic proteins such as XIAP. Mathematical models were derived and used to identify several potential therapeutic targets in this non-canonical mechanism.

Credo Casmil, Ph.D. student

Anna Blakney lab – University of British Columbia (Canada)

Expanding the repertoire of self-amplifying RNA vectors: an emerging frontier in mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases

Self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) results in prolonged and higher expression of encoded gene compared to standard mRNA. We designed saRNA vectors from alphaviruses. We showed that by tuning the vector design, we modulate the magnitude and duration of protein expression ex vivo and in vivo and influence the humoral and cellular immunity generated by saRNA vaccines using COVID-19 as a model system.

Indu Negi, postdoc fellow

Stacey Wetmore lab – University of Lethbridge (Canada)

Tuning the ykkC-I riboswitch: insights into potential effects of metal ion-induced allostery through MD simulations

Riboswitches exhibit high ligand specificity and potential as drug targets. This study focuses on ykkC (guanidine-I) riboswitches, the sole receptors for guanidinium cations, using long-timescale molecular dynamics simulations. Key findings reveal how guanidinium ions and metal cations drive structural transitions, modulate ligand-binding dynamics, and influence RNA regulation. These offer insights into RNA-based regulation and potential applications in drug discovery and biosensing.