Following the course of mRNA within a cellular environment

Following the course of mRNA within a cellular environment

Cracking the RNA Code: A Gutsy Pursuit at MIT

Xiao Wang, the gutsy scientist, took the academic world by storm with her ambitious project to explore the life cycle of RNA in cells and its impact on normal development and diseases. But it wasn't until she landed at MIT that her vision truly bloomed.

"I've gone bigger, bolder than my initial proposal," Wang says, beaming with pride. Holding joint positions in MIT's Department of Chemistry and the Broad Institute, Wang's lab is a melting pot of students from various fields – chemistry, biology, computer science, neuroscience, and more – working together to unravel the mysteries of RNA.

Wang's work zooms in on the development of tools that pinpoint where in a cell different types of messenger RNA are translated into proteins. This information could shed light on how cells control their fate and what goes wrong in diseases, particularly in the brain.

MIT's supportive environment drew Wang, who came on board in 2019, just before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite moving to a new city with limited connections, Wang found a warm welcome in the Boston area.

Her fascination with science sparked in middle school when she became a part of China's National Olympiad in math and chemistry. This opportunity introduced her to college-level course material, eventually leading her to a gold medal in the nationwide chemistry competition. At Peking University, Wang majored in chemistry and molecular engineering, working independently on research under the guidance of Professor Jian Pei.

Wang's interest in RNA began during her time at the University of Chicago, where she worked on common mRNA modifications under the mentorship of Professor Chuan He. This paved the way for her future research focusing on spatial transcriptomics and visualizing mRNA molecules within cells.

Currently, Wang's lab is expanding the capabilities of STARmap, a technique they developed, to analyze brain function and brain wiring. They are also developing tools that will allow them to map the entire life cycle of mRNA molecules and track how these molecules are transported within a cell during their lifetime.

One of these tools, RIBOmap, pinpoints the locations of mRNA molecules as they are being translated at ribosomes. Another allows the researchers to measure how quickly mRNA is degraded after being transcribed.

"Our goal is to create a toolkit that will let us visualize every step of the RNA life cycle inside cells and tissues," Wang says. This exploration could lead to groundbreaking discoveries in cellular processes and contribute to advancements in disease diagnosis and treatment by improving RNA-based therapies.

Behind this courageous pursuit lies the potential to revolutionize RNA therapeutics and vaccine development, offering hope for a brighter future in the fight against diseases.

1. Xiao Wang, currently at MIT's Department of Chemistry and the Broad Institute, is leading a groundbreaking research project on the life cycle of RNA in cells.
2. Wang's lab is a diverse hub of students from various disciplines, such as chemistry, biology, computer science, neuroscience, and more, collaborating to unravel RNA's mysteries.
3. Wang's research aims to develop tools that identify where in a cell different types of messenger RNA are translated into proteins, potentially shedding light on cell development and diseases, particularly in the brain.
4. The supportive environment at MIT drew Wang, who joined in 2019 just before the Covid-19 pandemic, despite moving to a new city with limited connections.
5. Wang's fascination with science was ignited in middle school as a participant in China's National Olympiad in math and chemistry.
6. At Peking University, Wang majored in chemistry and molecular engineering, conducting independent research under the guidance of Professor Jian Pei.
7. Wang's interest in RNA developed during her time at the University of Chicago, where she worked on common mRNA modifications under Professor Chuan He.
8. Wang's lab is expanding the capabilities of STARmap, a technique they developed, to analyze brain function and brain wiring, as well as developing tools to map the entire life cycle of mRNA molecules.
9. One of these tools, RIBOmap, pinpoints the locations of mRNA molecules as they are being translated at ribosomes, while another allows for the measurement of mRNA degradation rates after transcription.
10. The ultimate goal of Wang's research is to create a comprehensive toolkit to visualize every step of the RNA life cycle within cells, with the potential to revolutionize RNA therapeutics, vaccine development, and advancements in disease diagnosis and treatment.

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