Stephen Floor, PhD

Assistant Professor
Department of Cell & Tissue Biology
Research Overview: 

The Floor Lab studies the mechanisms by which RNA impacts human gene expression in health and disease. RNA chaperones are a major focus of the lab, which remodel RNA structures and RNA-protein interactions. We use deep sequencing, molecular biology of purified proteins, and imaging approaches to define the in vitro and cellular mechanisms of RNA chaperones. Many DEAD-box RNA chaperones are genetically altered in cancers and other diseases. We study the molecular basis of such alterations using cancer cell lines and genetically engineered stem cell models, aiming to better understand human biology and nominate new therapeutic targets or treatment regimens.

Primary Thematic Area: 
Cancer Biology & Cell Signaling
Secondary Thematic Area: 
Developmental & Stem Cell Biology
Research Summary: 
RNA-mediated control of gene expression in health and disease
Mentorship Development: 

4/12/19  Acknowleding and Negotiating the Mentee-Mentor Tensions Inherent in the Research Lab (Parnassus)

Websites

Publications: 

A Legionella toxin exhibits tRNA mimicry and glycosyl transferase activity to target the translation machinery and trigger a ribotoxic stress response.

Nature cell biology

Subramanian A, Wang L, Moss T, Voorhies M, Sangwan S, Stevenson E, Pulido EH, Kwok S, Chalkley RJ, Li KH, Krogan NJ, Swaney DL, Burlingame AL, Floor SN, Sil A, Walter P, Mukherjee S

RNA molecular recording with an engineered RNA deaminase.

Nature methods

Lin Y, Kwok S, Hein AE, Thai BQ, Alabi Y, Ostrowski MS, Wu K, Floor SN

Nucleolar dynamics are determined by the ordered assembly of the ribosome.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology

Sheu-Gruttadauria J, Yan X, Stuurman N, Floor SN, Vale RD

Determinants of DDX3X sensitivity uncovered using a helicase activity in translation reporter.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology

Wilkins KC, Schroeder T, Gu S, Revalde JL, Floor SN