Prof. Gil Ast

The Ast group has made numerous seminal contributions to the field of mRNA splicing. We showed that genome 3D organization directs selection of exons or introns by the splicing machinery in different nuclear regions, discovered the birthing process of new alternative exons and how this generates novel functions, demonstrated how chromatin organization and DNA methylation mark exons and introns, linked alternative splicing and certain genetic disorders and cancer, and identified RNA polymerase II as the carrier of the splice sites.

Our mastery of both bioinformatics and molecular biology enables the multidisciplinary work that has led to our unique contributions. I and my co-workers have published numerous studies in leading journals, revealing, for example, how the human genome obtained some of its unique characteristics, how new mRNA isoforms have emerged during evolution and gained novel functions, how chromatin structure and other epigenetic determinants can regulate the splicing reaction, and the links between alternative splicing and certain genetic disorders and cancer.

My lab was one of the first in the world to integrate computational biology and experimental bench work. Our mastery of both bioinformatics and molecular biology approaches enables the multidisciplinary work that has led to our unique contributions. Thus, our group is highly productive and uniquely positioned in the field of RNA processing to carry out the objectives of this grant proposal.