THE SUN LAB
At the University of California, Irvine
OUR RESEARCH
Long noncoding RNAs in epigenetic programming – The general interest of the Sun laboratory is to understand how a living cell controls its genetic and epigenetic composition. The main focus of our research involves the functional roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in epigenetic programming. Increasing evidence from large-scale transcriptome sequencing projects suggests a high abundance of lncRNAs present in human genome and potentially significant roles of lncRNAs in various aspects of biological processes. The research projects in our lab will address the following three questions: 1) What are molecular features required for lncRNA function? 2) What are the mechanisms for lncRNA regulation? 3) How have lncRNA functions evolved?
By using microscopy techniques to visualize RNA molecules, we can precisely locate and observe RNA molecules as they operate within the cellular environment. This enables us to gain insights into the mechanisms of lncRNAs in cellular processes..
Latest News
2024
October:
We celebrate our paper Naciri et al., which is in press by PNAS!
July:
Maria presented a poster at the SMBE, Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico about her research on Xist in the white-footed deermous
March:
Sha presented a poster at the TAGC, The Allied Genetics Conference, in Washington DC and connected with her PhD thesis lab friends!
2023
December:
Our review article on lncRNAs involved in cancer sex dimorphism is online with open access by Human Genetics!
November:
The Lab had a blast at UCI’s Team Up! team building course!
October:
Ikrame presented a poster at the American Association Special Conference in Cancer Research: Ovarian Cancer in Boston, MA! Go Ikrame!
