UWMUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison · Biochemistry
Butcher Lab
Samuel E Butcher · Madison, Wisconsin
Research Focus
Dr. Samuel E. Butcher's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focuses on understanding how RNA-protein complexes regulate gene expression and their implications for genetic disorders. Using a variety of biophysical methods, the research explores the structural dynamics of essential RNA components like the spliceosome and the role of newly discovered RNA types involved in gene silencing. This work aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions and their connection to diseases such as Alzheimer's and ALS.
RNA-protein interactionsspliceosomegene expressionpoly-UG RNAsneurodegenerative diseasesmRNA decaybiophysical methodsalternative splicingTDP-43
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the structure of U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle and its assembly with U4 snRNP.
AIM 02Explore the remodeling of the Lsm1-7 complex and its role in mRNA decay.
AIM 03Examine the structure and function of poly-UG tailed RNAs in gene silencing.
AIM 04Determine the interaction between poly-UG RNAs and TDP-43 protein in neuronal contexts.
AIM 05Understand the impacts of RNA-protein interactions on genetic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
Skills the Lab Values
RNA isolationprotein purificationbiophysical techniquesmicroscopygel electrophoresismolecular cloningRNA sequencingstructural analysiscell culture
Output against the department
Publications171top 50% of dept.201st of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.1kbottom 30% of dept.281st 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.