Research

Iain Mattaj’s early work centered on a group of ribonucleoprotein particles, the U snRNPs, that function in the processing of messenger RNA precursors. His analyses of these RNPs spanned a variety of topics including transcription of the RNA components, RNA-protein interactions, function of the RNPs in messenger RNA production and assembly of the RNPs from their component parts in vivo. This work led to numerous studies of transport of RNA and proteins between the cell nucleus and cytoplasm.

Iain Mattaj’s group identified numerous factors and mechanisms involved in this important process. Mattaj’s most recent work is focused on aspects of the regulation of processes that occur during cell division, including spindle formation and nuclear envelope breakdown and reassembly.