Background
Eriks Rozners’ research interests are in the chemistry and biochemistry of nucleic acids with a focus on elucidation of RNA's structure and function. His research philosophy is to use organic chemistry as the enabling discipline to create unique model systems and tools for fundamental studies and practical applications in nucleic acid biochemistry, biophysics and biomedicine.
Current projects include design, synthesis and biophysical exploration of RNA analogs with non-phosphorous internucleoside linkages and the development of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) as novel RNA binders. The research projects are interdisciplinary in nature and involve multiple collaborations with chemists and biochemists in the U.S. and abroad. The goals are to design and synthesize chemically modified RNA and PNA analogs, and to study the structure, biophysical properties and biological activity of the synthesized analogs.
Accepting BCCB graduate students
Recent publications
Ryan, C. A.; Rahman, M. M.; Kumar, V.; Rozners, E. Triplex-Forming Peptide Nucleic Acid Controls Dynamic Conformations of RNA Bulges. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 10497–10504.
Richter, M.; Viel, J. A.; Kotikam, V.; Gajula, P. K.; Coyle, L.; Pal, C.; Rozners, E. Amide Modifications in the Seed Region of the Guide Strand Improve the On-Target Specificity of Short Interfering RNA. ACS Chem. Biol. 2023, 18, 7-11.
Ryan, C. A.; Baskevics, V.; Katkevics, M.; Rozners, E. Extended 2-Guanidyl Pyridine PNA Nucleobase for Triple-Helical Hoogsteen Recognition of Cytosine in Double Stranded RNA. Chem. Commun. 2022, 58, 7148-7151.
Kotikam, V.; Gajula, P. K.; Coyle, L.; Rozners, E. Amide Internucleoside Linkages Are Well Tolerated in Protospacer Adjacent Motif-Distal Region of CRISPR RNAs. ACS Chem. Biol. 2022, 17, 509-512.
Kotikam, V.; Rozners, E. Amide-Modified RNA: Using Protein Backbone to Modulate Function of Short Interfering RNAs. Acc. Chem. Res. 2020, 53, 1782-1790.
Education
- Doctor of Chemistry (equivalent of Ph.D.) in organic chemistry, Riga Technical University, Latvia
- Degree in chemical engineering (equivalent of MS), Riga Technical University, Latvia
Research Interests
- Chemical approaches to control the function of regulatory RNAs
- Non-ionic backbone-modified RNA analogs
- Molecular recognition of folded RNA using Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs)
- Triplex-forming PNAs to control function of SARS-CoV-2 RNA
Teaching Interests
- Organic synthesis (CHEM 432/532)
- Stereoselective organic synthesis (CHEM 483L/583L)
Awards
- American Chemical Society (ACS), Division of Carbohydrate Chemistry, Melville L. Wolfrom Award, 2021
- ACS, ÂÌñÉç Local Section, Distinguished Research Award, 2021
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, 2016