Katie Sortino

My work focuses on characterizing protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions involved in RNA editing in the kinetoplastid parasite, Trypanosoma brucei.

Kinetoplastid parasites undergo a unique posttranscriptional RNA editing process where hundreds of uridines are inserted into and dozens are deleted from an immature transcript. The RNA Editing Substrate Binding Complex (RESC) is responsible for facilitating a number of these protein and RNA interactions required for RNA editing.

My research seeks to better understand the dynamic interactions between the different protein and RNA components of RESC, through using numerous protein and RNA biochemical techniques as well as bioinformatic analysis of complex high throughput sequencing data. As this editing process is necessary for the survival of T. brucei and related parasites, elucidating the role of different RESC factors will be beneficial in helping to better understand the crucial biological processes within these human pathogens as well as determine potential drug targets.

• Laurie K. Read, PhD

• PhD, University at Buffalo, Microbiology and Immunology, Buffalo, NY