Sidney Kushner
Distinguished Research Professor
Ph.D. (1970) Brandeis University
Phone: 706-542-1440
Email: skushner@uga.edu
See my Laboratory Home Page

Research Interests
The stability of mRNAs is an important feature of post-transcriptional regulation in prokaryotes. We are using a combination of genetic and biochemical approaches to analyze the pathways that control the degradation of mRNAs. In addition, we also are examining the biological role of polyadenylation in bacteria, in part by employing genomic arrays. Beyond the work on RNA metabolism, my laboratory continues its genetic and biochemical analysis of DNA repair, mutagenesis, and genetic recombination in E. coli. In particular, we are now working on understanding the role of DNA helicase II in DNA repair, spontaneous mutagenesis and DNA replication. Other interests include the expression of cloned eukaryotic genes in prokaryotic hosts.
  • Kushner, S.R. 2007. Chapter 4.6.4. Messenger RNA decay. In, Escherichia coli and Salmonella: cellular and molecular biology. A. Böck, R. Curtis III., Gross, C.A., J.B. Kaper, F.C. Neidhardt, T. Nyström, K.E, Rudd, and C. L. Squires (eds.). http://www.ecosal.org. American Society for Microbiology Press, Washington, DC.
  • Mohanty, B.K. and S.R. Kushner. 2007. Ribonuclease P processes polycistronic tRNA transcripts in Escherichia coli independent of ribonuclease E. Nucleic Acids Res. 35: 7614-25.
  • Mohanty, B.K. and S.R. Kushner. 2006. The majority of E. coli mRNAs undergo post-transcriptional modification in exponentially growing cells. Nucleic Acids Research 34: 5695-5704.
  • Suzuki, K., P. Babitske, S.R. Kushner, and T. Romeo. 2006. Identification of a novel regulatory protein (CsrD) that targets the global regulatory RNAs CsrB and CsrC for degradation by RNase E. Genes and Development 20: 2605-2617.
  • Perwez, T.  and S.R. Kushner. 2006. RNase Z in Escherichia coli plays a significant role in mRNA decay. Molec. Microbiol. 60: 723-737.
  • Kushner, S.R. 2005. Messenger RNA in prokaryotes. In, Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, 2nd Edition. MacMillan Reference Limited. Stockton Press, London.
  • Kushner, S.R. 2004. mRNA decay in prokaryotes and eukaryotes: different approaches to a similar problem. IUBMB Life 56: 585-594.
  • Mohanty, B.K., V.F. Maples and S.R. Kushner. 2004. The Sm-like protein Hfq regulates polyadenylation dependent mRNA decay in Escherichia coli. Molec. Microbiol. 54: 645-658.
  • Kushner, S.R. 2004. mRNA decay and processing. Pp. 327-345 In: The Bacterial Chromosome. N.P. Higgins (ed). ASM Press, Washington, DC.
  • Kushner, S.R. 2004. Pre-tRNA and pre-rRNA processing in bacteria. Pp. 420-424 In: Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry, W. J. Lennarz and M.D. Lane (eds). Elsevier, Oxford.
  • Mohanty, B.K. and S.R. Kushner. 2003. Genomic analysis in Escherichia coli demonstrates differential roles for polynucleotide phosphorylase and RNase II in mRNA abundance and decay. Molec. Microbiol. 50: 645-658.
  • Ow, M.C., T. Perwez and S.R. Kushner. 2003. RNase G of Escherichia coli exhibits only limited functional overlap with its essential homologue, RNase E.  Molec. Microbiol. 49: 607-622.
  • Kushner, S.R. 2002. mRNA decay in Escherichia coli comes of age. J. Bacteriol. 184: 4658-4665.
  • Ow, M.C., Q. Liu, B.K. Mohanty, M.E. Andrew, V.F. Maples and S.R. Kushner. 2002. RNase E levels in Escherichia coli are controlled by a complex regulatory system that involves transcription of the rne gene from three promoters. Molec. Microbiol. 43: 159-172.
  • Ow, M.C. and S.R. Kushner. 2002. Initiation of tRNA maturation by RNase E is essential for cell viability in Escherichia coli. Genes and Development 16: 1102-1115.
  • Mohanty, B.K. and S.R. Kushner. 2000. Polynucleotide phosphorylase, RNase II and RNase E play different roles in the in vivo modulation of polyadenylation in Escherichia coli. Molec. Microbiol. 36: 982-994.
  • Bügl, H., E.B. Fauman, B.L. Staker, F-Z. Zheng, S.R. Kushner, M.A. Saper, J.C.A. Bardwell and U. Jakob. 2000. RNA methylation under heat shock control. Molecular Cell 6: 349-360.
  • Mohanty, B.K. and S.R. Kushner. 2000. Polynucleotide phosphorylase functions both as a 3' --> 5' exonuclease and a poly(A) polymerase in in Escherichia coli. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97: 11966-11971.
  • Ow, M.C., Q. Liu and S.R. Kushner. 2000. Analysis of mRNA decay and rRNA processing in Escherichia coli in the absence of RNase E-based degradosome assembly. Molec. Microbiol. 38: 854-866.
  • Mohanty, B.K. and S.R. Kushner. 1999. Analysis of the function of Escherichia coli poly(A) polymerase I in RNA metabolism. Molec. Microbiol. 34: 1094-1108.
  • Mohanty, B.K. and S.R. Kushner. 1999. Residual polyadenylation in poly(A) polymerase I (pcnB) mutants of Escherichia coli does not result from the activity encoded by the f310 gene. Molec. Microbiol. 34: 1109-1119.
  • "The Role of Polyadenylation in RNA Turnover," NIH