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Department of Biology and Biochemistry

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Faculty Profile

Quentin VicensQuentin Vicens

Assistant Professor
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
Research Division: Biochemistry (Primary)

Office: Science & Engineering Research Center (SERC), 4021
Lab: SERC, W4010
Contact: qvicens@uh.edu

Education: Sc.D., University of Strasbourg, France (2015); Ph.D., University of Strasbourg, France (2002)

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UH Release

RNA shapes in three dimensions influence RNA functions. Dr. Vicen’s group explores this relationship in the context of messenger RNA and how its function is modulated by proteins, small molecules and chemical modifications. They use approaches from biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, sequencing and bioinformatics. They collaborate with labs at national and international institutions.

  • Langeberg CJ, Nichols PJ, Henen MA, Vicens Q, Vögeli B. Differential Structural Features of Two Mutant ADAR1p150 Zα Domains Associated with Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome. J Mol Biol. 2023 Apr 15;435(8):168040. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168040. Epub 2023 Mar 7. PMID: 36889460; PMCID: PMC10109538.
  • Vicens Q, Westhof E. Brief considerations on targeting RNA with small molecules. Fac Rev. 2022 Dec 21;11:39. doi: 10.12703/r/11-39. PMID: 36644293; PMCID: PMC9816876.
  • Nichols PJ, Krall JB, Henen MA, Vögeli B, Vicens Q. Z-RNA biology: a central role in the innate immune response? RNA. 2023 Mar;29(3):273-281. doi: 10.1261/rna.079429.122. Epub 2023 Jan 3. PMID: 36596670; PMCID: PMC9945438.
  • Bonilla SL, Vicens Q, Kieft JS. Cryo-EM reveals an entangled kinetic trap in the folding of a catalytic RNA. Sci Adv. 2022 Aug 26;8(34):eabq4144. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abq4144. Epub 2022 Aug 26. PMID: 36026457; PMCID: PMC9417180.
  • Vicens Q, Kieft JS. Thoughts on how to think (and talk) about RNA structure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Apr 26;119(17):e2112677119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2112677119. Epub 2022 Apr 19. PMID: 35439059; PMCID: PMC9169933.
  • Nichols PJ, Bevers S, Henen M, Kieft JS, Vicens Q, Vögeli B. Recognition of non-CpG repeats in Alu and ribosomal RNAs by the Z-RNA binding domain of ADAR1 induces A-Z junctions. Nat Commun. 2021 Feb 4;12(1):793. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21039-0. PMID: 33542240; PMCID: PMC7862695.
  • Abaeva IS, Vicens Q, Bochler A, Soufari H, Simonetti A, Pestova TV, Hashem Y, Hellen CUT. The Halastavi árva Virus Intergenic Region IRES Promotes Translation by the Simplest Possible Initiation Mechanism. Cell Rep. 2020 Dec 8;33(10):108476. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108476. PMID: 33296660; PMCID: PMC7934607.
  • Vicens Q. Special Issue: Frontiers in RNA Structure. Molecules. 2020 Oct 21;25(20):4843. doi: 10.3390/molecules25204843. PMID: 33096601; PMCID: PMC7587929.
  • Szucs MJ, Nichols PJ, Jones RA, Vicens Q, Kieft JS. A New Subclass of Exoribonuclease-Resistant RNA Found in Multiple Genera of Flaviviridae. mBio. 2020 Sep 29;11(5):e02352-20. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02352-20. PMID: 32994331; PMCID: PMC7527734.
  • Vicens Q, Mondragón E, Reyes FE, Coish P, Aristoff P, Berman J, Kaur H, Kells KW, Wickens P, Wilson J, Gadwood RC, Schostarez HJ, Suto RK, Blount KF, Batey RT. Structure-Activity Relationship of Flavin Analogues That Target the Flavin Mononucleotide Riboswitch. ACS Chem Biol. 2018 Oct 19;13(10):2908-2919. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00533. Epub 2018 Sep 20. PMID: 30107111; PMCID: PMC6874366.

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