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.

Zearfoss, N.R., Clingman, C.C., Farley, B.M., McCoig, L.M., and Ryder, S.P. 2011  Quaking regulates Hnrnpa1 expression through its 3´-UTR in oligodendrocyte precursor cells.  PLoS Genet, 7, e1001269. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1001269

Pagano, J.M. Clingman, C.C., and Ryder, S.P. 2011 Quantitative approaches to monitor protein-nucleic acid interactions using fluorescent probes.  RNA, 17, 14-20.

Ryder, S.P. and Massi, F. 2010 Insights into the structural basis of RNA recognition by STAR domain proteins.  Adv. Exp. Med. Biol., 693, 37-53.

Pagano, J.M., Farley, B.M., Essien, K., and Ryder, S.P. 2009 RNA recognition by the embryonic cell fate determinant and germline totipotency factor MEX-3 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 106, 20252-20257.

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

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

Joined the faculty in August of 2005.