We are interested in understanding the mechanisms that govern post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression during development and complex disease. Our research is focused primarily in three areas:

1. Post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms involved in axis polarization and cell fate specification during Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis.

2. Characterization of post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that guide oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin formation in the vertebrate central nervous system.

3. Identification of small molecule inhibitors of RNA-binding protein function using high throughput screening approaches.

We employ a combination of biochemical and molecular genetic methods, bioinformatics, chemical biology, biophysics, and structural analsyses in our studies, with a focus on quantitative measurements.

Read more about our research here.

The Lazare Research Building:
Recent Publications:

Farley, BM, Pagano, JM, and Ryder, SP. 2008 RNA target specificity of the cell fate determinant POS-1. RNA, 14, 2685-2697.

Zearfoss, NR, Farley, BM and Ryder, SP. 2008  Post-transcriptional regulation of myelin formation. Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 1779, 486-494.

Farley, BM and Ryder, SP. 2008 Regulation of maternal mRNAs in early development. Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol., 43, 135-162.

Pagano, JM, Farley, BM, McCoig, LM, and Ryder, SP. 2007 Molecular basis of RNA recognition by the embryonic polarity determinant MEX-5. J. Biol. Chem. 282, 8883-8894.

Ryder, SP. 2006 Oskar gains weight.  Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 13, 297-299.

Contact Information:
Sean P Ryder, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
University of Massachusetts Medical School
364 Plantation Street, LRB-906
Worcester, MA 01605

Office Phone: 508-856-1372
Lab Phone1: 508-856-3568
Lab Phone2: 508-856-3718
General Fax: 508-856-6464
E-mail: sean.ryder_AT_umassmed.edu

Campus Address: Lazare Research Building, 9th floor, Office 906

Our laboratory is located in the Lazare Research Building of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. We enjoy a collaborative research environment that includes several colleagues with related interests in worm biology, RNA biochemistry, developmental biology, or biophysics.

Directions Parking Campus Map Weather Calendar

Introduction:
Last updated: April, 2009 Home Research People Publications Links

Sean P. Ryder, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
University of Massachusetts Medical School

Joined the faculty in August of 2005.