Phone: (205) 934-6593
E-mail: dbedwell@uab.edu

Research/Clinical Interest Description: A major objective of research in my lab is to understand the mechanistic details of translation termination in eukaryotes. Besides the release factors eRF1 and eRF3, many other cellular components influence the process of translation termination. Surprisingly sophisticated cellular machineries also regulate the abundance of mRNAs based on the location of stop codons. We are using a combination of genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology in a yeast experimental system to better understand the molecular details of how these processes are carried out. We are also investigating whether pharmacological agents can be used to suppress nonsense mutations that cause genetic diseases.