Julius B Lucks

Achieving large dynamic range control of gene expression with a compact RNA transcription-translation regulator

This paper develops an RNA-based regulator that improves gene expression control in E. coli by combining transcriptional termination and RBS sequestration, achieving higher repression and activation.

Improving fold activation of small transcription activating RNAs (STARs) with rational RNA engineering strategies.

This paper improves the fold activation of STAR regulators using rational RNA engineering strategies, increasing activation from 5.4-fold to 13.4-fold and demonstrating generalizability across unrelated STARs.

Generating effective models and parameters for RNA genetic circuits

The paper develops an ordinary differential equation model for RNA genetic circuits and demonstrates its use in parameter determination and discovery of new biological processes.

Rapidly characterizing the fast dynamics of RNA genetic circuitry with cell-free transcription-translation (TX-TL) systems

This study uses cell-free TX-TL systems to rapidly prototype and characterize RNA genetic circuits, showing response times of ~5 minutes per cascade step and demonstrating temporal gene expression staging.