Eriks Rozners

Professor

Chemistry

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.

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, Binghamton Local Section, Distinguished Research Award, 2021
SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, 2016

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