UTHThe University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston · Biology
The tRNA Modulation Lab
Catherine Denicourt · Houston, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Catherine Denicourt's lab at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston focuses on understanding how modifications to transfer RNA (tRNA) influence the process of mRNA translation, especially under stress conditions. They study a specific enzyme involved in tRNA modification and its role in cellular responses to stress, aiming to uncover how these mechanisms affect gene expression and cellular health. This research may have significant implications for understanding diseases linked to tRNA dysfunction.
RNA modificationsmRNA translationtRNAcellular stressgene expressionribosome biogenesisoxidative stressendoplasmic reticulum stresstranslational regulation
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the role of the RIX1 complex in tRNA modifications.
AIM 02Characterize the new tRNA D-loop modification circuit regulated by TRMT1L.
AIM 03Profile changes in actively translated mRNA during stress recovery.
Skills the Lab Values
RNA modification analysismolecular interaction assaysmass spectrometrydirect tRNA sequencingRibo-seqbioinformaticscell cultureco-immunoprecipitationexperimental design
Output against the department
Publications31bottom 4% of dept.989th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.2kbottom 7% of dept.962nd of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.