Columbia University in the City of New York · BiologyTong Lab
Liang Tong · New York, New York
Research Focus
Dr. Liang Tong's lab focuses on understanding how messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are processed and regulated within cells. By studying the proteins involved in mRNA stability and quality control, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms that ensure mRNAs are correctly modified before they are translated into proteins. This research is crucial as defects in mRNA processing can lead to various diseases, including some cancers.
mRNA processingquality controlRNA cappingcryogenic electron microscopyprotein complexespost-transcriptional regulationmolecular mechanismsenzymatic activity
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the structural basis of pre-mRNA and snRNA 3-end processing machineries.
AIM 02Characterize the molecular mechanisms of decapping activities by DXO/Rai1 and Nudix enzymes.
AIM 03Explore the quality control processes involved in mRNA processing.
AIM 04Study the functional roles of the protein factors in mRNA lifecycle events.
Skills the Lab Values
cryogenic electron microscopyX-ray crystallographymolecular cloningRNA extractioncell culturebiochemical assaysprotein purificationsequence analysisimmunoblotting
Output against the department
Publications457top 9% of dept.96th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations25ktop 16% of dept.163rd 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.