Currently, the research activities in the lab center
around the following four topics:
(1) DNA enzymes (enzymes made of DNA)
Creation, catalytic mechanism and application of new
DNA enzymes for catalyzing biologically important
reactions.
(2) RNA enzymes (enzymes made of RNA)
Creation of RNA enzymes and comparison of DNA and RNA
enzymes for catalytic capabilities.
(3) DNA/RNA aptamers
Exploration of new methods for generating DNA or RNA
aptamers (DNA/RNA molecules that bind proteins)and
application of aptamers in regulating important
biological pathways.
(4) Nucleic acid manipulating enzymes
Exploration of new ways of utilizing nucleic acid
manipulating enzymes (T4 polynucleotide kinase, T4 DNA
ligase, T4 RNA ligase, RNA polymerase, etc.) for
generating specially modified DNA and RNA molecules for
useful applications.