Daniel J. Battle

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Assistant Professor

Ph.D. - Yale University
Post Doctoral - University of Pennsylvania

My lab is primarily interested in understanding the biochemical and structural basis of RNA-dependent regulation of gene expression. It has long been noted that RNA processing events contribute much of the diversity of gene expression in eukaryotes. Interestingly, much of that gene regulation is a consequence of the biological activity of structured RNAs through their interactions with other RNAs, small molecules and proteins. We are interested in studying the structure and assembly of RNA complexes, as well as their resulting biological function.

The main focus of the lab is in the RNA biochemistry of neurons. The physiology of neurons, with their relatively small cell bodies and exceptionally long processes, creates unique requirements for RNA processing. Many mRNAs are transported long distances, and many RNA processing events are believed to occur within axons and near synapses. Further, relatively little is known of the diversity and function of non-coding RNAs in neuronal systems.

We are particularly interested in cases where the malfunction of RNA processing events leads to human disease. One interest of the lab is to apply physical biochemistry techniques to understand the molecular physiology of RNA-mediated neurodegeneration.

Recent Publications:

• Battle DJ, Kasim M, Wang J and Dreyfuss G (2007) "SMN-independent subunits of the SMN complex: identification of a snRNP assembly intermediate" J Biol Chem 282(38):27953-9.
• Kolb SJ, Battle DJ and Dreyfuss G (2007) "Molecular functions of the SMN complex" J Child Neurol 22(8):990-4.
• Battle DJ, Kasim M, Yong J, Lotti F, Lau C, Mouaikel J, Han J, Wan L and Dreyfuss G (2006) "The SMN complex: an assembly machine for RNPs" Cold Spring Harb. Symp. Quant. Biol. 71, 313-20.
• Battle DJ, Lau C, Wan L, Deng H, Lotti F and Dreyfuss G (2006) "The Gemin5 protein of the SMN complex identifies snRNAs" Molecular Cell 23(2):273-9.
• Wan L, Battle DJ, Yong J, Gubitz AK, Kolb SJ, Wang J and Dreyfuss G (2005) "The survival of motor neurons protein determines the capacity for snRNP assembly: biochemical deficiency in spinal muscular atrophy" Mol Cell Biol 25(13):5543-51.
• Golembe TJ, Yong J, Battle DJ, Feng W, Wan L and Dreyfuss G (2005) "Lymphotropic Herpesvirus saimiri uses the SMN complex to assemble Sm cores on its small RNAs" Mol Cell Biol 25(2):602-11.
• Feng W, Gubitz A K, Wan L, Battle DJ, Dostie J, Golembe TJ and Dreyfuss G (2005) "Gemins modulate the expression and activity of the SMN complex" Hum Mol Genet 14(12):1605-11.
• Yong J, Golembe TJ, Battle DJ, Pellizzoni L and Dreyfuss G (2004) "snRNAs contain specific SMN-binding domains that are essential for snRNP assembly" Mol Cell Biol 24(7):2747-56.
• Battle DJ and Doudna JA (2002) "Specificity of RNA-RNA helix recognition" Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99(18):11676-81.
• Battle DJ and Doudna JA (2001) "The stem-loop binding protein forms a highly stable and specific complex with the 3’ stem-loop of histone mRNAs" RNA 7(1):123-32.