Subha Ranjan Das

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

The Das laboratory is interested in the chemical biology of nucleic acids in general and RNA in particular. The research in the group focuses on the structure and function of RNA and its analogues that are chemically modified with atomic precision. We explore the chemistry of RNA enzymes or ribozymes and the cellular processes they mediate, using the tools of synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology. Interdisciplinary and collaborative projects with other laboratories seek to establish a broader understanding of how specific RNA molecules of interest interact with small molecules and proteins. These interactions are crucial in the expression and regulation of genes. With this knowledge, the group seeks to engineer nucleic acids with a view to manipulating gene expression and towards possible therapeutic applications.

Lab Webpage: http://www.chem.cmu.edu/groups/das/