Megerditch (Mike) Kiledjian, Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers–New Brunswick.
Kiledjian’s research focuses on the mechanistic understanding of mRNA turnover and its consequence on human disorders. His lab’s primary emphasis has been on a key regulatory step involving the removal of the protective 5´end cap, termed decapping. The lab has identified all known mRNA decapping enzymes and has made significant contributions to our understanding of how decapping contributes to the physiology of the innate immune response, cell migration and cognitive function. The lab’s most recent focus has been on the link between RNA metabolism and cellular metabolism. The lab identified a novel mRNA 5´end cap consisting of nicotinamide adenine diphosphate (NAD). The presence of an NAD cap on mRNAs demonstrates an important correlation between mRNA decay and cellular energetics and new avenues to modulate gene expression in human cells.
The association cited Kiledjian for “distinguished contributions to advancements in the life sciences, particularly in understanding the molecular mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation of gene
[He is one of] five Rutgers professors have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) – a distinction awarded by association members.
The AAAS today announced 416 new fellows, citing their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. The honorees will be presented an official certificate and a gold and blue (representing science and engineering, respectively) rosette pin on February 16 at the AAAS Fellows Forum during the 2019 AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Todd Bate. For the full article, please click [here].
