Jerry R. Faust, Ph.D.

Research

In my lab, we focus on two areas: 1) Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (NCL), a set of devastating neurodegenerative diseases affecting mostly small children and caused by mutations in several genes. The underlying cause of these diseases is unknown. Using positional cloning, comparative biochemistry and molecular biology tools, we are studying mouse models of NCL. 2) Isopentenyladenosine (i6A), is a highly conserved, modified nucleoside present in a few transfer RNAs. We have discovered that i6A, found on an unusual tRNA which reads a stop codon, is essential for overriding termination in selenoprotein synthesis. We are employing molecular biological tools to unravel this unique, yet fundamental, aspect of general biology.