RESEARCH

mRNAs are supposed to embody the genetic information encoded by their corresponding genes. However, mRNA can be edited prior to protein synthesis. Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) mRNA editing is widespread in eukaryotes, and since inosine is structurally similar to guanosine (G), it can affect protein sequence and function.

We recently discovered that A-to-I mRNA editing occurs also in bacteria, potentially recoding the sequence of dozens of proteins and possibly altering their functionality. However, the extent to which mRNA editing occurs in bacteria, its effect on the function of various proteins, and the regulatory principles that govern this process are poorly understood.

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We use and develop a wide range of tools and resources, both computational and experimental: from generating bacterial cells with hyper or no editing activity, through computational approaches identifying mRNA editing events, to testing their effect on protein function and bacterial fitness.