University of Colorado Boulder · BiochemistryThe mRNA Forge
David L Bentley · Boulder, Colorado
Research Focus
Dr. David L. Bentley's lab at the University of Colorado Denver focuses on understanding how genes get turned into messenger RNA (mRNA), the vital molecules that carry genetic information. They study the processes involved in mRNA production, including how the mRNA is created and then modified before it functions in the body. By examining these critical steps, the lab aims to find out what goes wrong in diseases like cancer when these processes are disrupted.
gene expressionmRNA processingtranscriptionRNA polymerase IIsplicingcappingpolyadenylationRNA foldingRNA-binding proteins
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the relationship between pre-mRNA processing and transcription elongation.
AIM 02Determine how the speed of transcription elongation is regulated.
AIM 03Explore mechanisms of transcription termination both within genes and at the 3' ends.
Skills the Lab Values
RNA extractionPCRcell culturegenomic approachesRNA sequencingWestern blottingtranscription assaysgenetic engineeringbioinformaticsmicroscopy
Output against the department
Publications182top 47% of dept.186th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations19ktop 22% of dept.88th of 402
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.