B. R. Cullen

RNA conformational propensities determine cellular activity

The paper alters and measures conformational propensities of HIV-1 TAR RNA to predict binding affinities and cellular activity.

Revealing the high propensity of RNAs to non-specifically bind drug-like small molecules

This study examines the non-specific binding of three drug-like compounds to HIV-1 stem-loop RNAs, showing they inhibit RNA function and exhibit off-target interactions.

Acetylation of cytidine residues boosts HIV-1 gene expression by increasing viral RNA stability

This study shows HIV-1 transcripts are acetylated at cytidine residues by NAT10, enhancing viral RNA stability and gene expression, suggesting ac4C as a potential antiviral target.

Probing RNA conformational equilibria within the functional cellular context

The paper develops a method to assess RNA excited-state stability and abundance in cells using mutations and applies it to HIV-1 regulatory RNAs, showing ESs form with comparable abundance in vitro and in vivo.

Extensive epitranscriptomic methylation of A and C residues on murine leukemia virus transcripts enhances viral gene expression

This study shows that murine leukemia virus (MLV) transcripts have high levels of m6A, m5C, and Nm modifications, which enhance viral replication and gene expression.

The Epstein-Barr Virus miR-BHRF1 microRNAs Regulate Viral Gene Expression in cis

This paper shows that EBV miR-BHRF1 microRNAs regulate EBNA-LP mRNA stability in cis, not trans, and their loss reduces B-cell transformation.