Kasper Langebjerg Andersen

Current research

I am currently participating in several projects revolving around the function of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and their involvment in the regulation of fundamental cellular processes.

Ribosome specialization:

I am leading a project concerning the role of ribosome specialization by differential association of ncRNAs and proteins. Historically, the ribosome has been viewed as a ‘passive’ translator from mRNA to protein sequence. However, this view has been challenged and a few examples of specialized ribosomes controlling the translation activity have been found. We believe this to be a broader phenomenon as specialized ribosomes actually are more common than generally recognized. I have developed a specialized strain of cells in which all of the 18.000 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes encoded in the genome have been tagged with a small RNA tag. This means that we can isolate endogenously assembled ribosomes to a degree of purity. We are looking into the function of ribosome specialization by gene knock out, mass spectrometry, and sequencing while following co-purified mRNAs (mRNA under translation) by deep sequencing. Currently, we are highly interested in a particular ncRNA that associates with the ribosome solely during cell stress.  

ncRNAs of the model organism Tetrahymena thermophila:

I am involved in the mapping, annotation, and functional characterization of ncRNAs from the eukaryote model organism Tetrahymena thermophila and related species. In particular, we are investigating the snoRNAs involved in rRNA biogenesis and snRNAs involved in mRNA splicing.

Characterization of a novel RNA cap:

Through a collaboratory effort we are describing a novel 5’ RNA cap. Thus far, just three RNA nucleotide caps are recognized. By various biochemical methods as well as MALDI-TOF and LC-MS/MS mass spectrometry we are currently describing a fourth.