Department of Biochemistry · School of Medicine
The molecule behind every essential pathway of life.
A multidisciplinary group studying the dynamic networks of RNA biology — from tRNA biogenesis and riboswitches to non-coding RNAs and mRNA turnover in human disease.
80+
Publications since 1995
12
Group Members
3
Core Research Streams
6
Funding Bodies
Three streams, one integrated approach.
tRNA
tRNA & translation
Biogenesis, aminoacylation and signalling; T-box riboswitches as novel antibiotic targets in pathogens.
ncRNAs
Non-coding RNAs
Novel miRNAs and tRNA-derived fragments across human disease models and melanoma plasticity.
mRNA
mRNA turnover
Characterising essential enzymes that regulate mRNA stability and cap-dependent translation in cancer.
What the group works on
RNA holds a central role as an essential modulator of a wide network of reactions in all domains of life. High-throughput methods keep uncovering new roles, and the group’s work spans six connected areas.
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Dynamic networks of tRNA biogenesis, aminoacylation and signalling in human
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The role of rRNA in antibiotic resistance
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Identification of novel miRNAs and tRFs in various human disease models
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Regulation of multiple pathways by tRNA-dependent riboswitches (T-boxes) in pathogens
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Characterisation of essential enzymes with a role in mRNA turnover
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Studies on RNA-related proteins that modulate its regulatory role
Recent work
- TGFβ pathway represses hepatic ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis through regulation of p70s6k-s6rp proteins. Stavropoulos A., Stamatopoulou V., Pavlos E., Manioudaki M., Stathopoulos C. & Xilouri M. Cell Mol Biol Lett 31:21 2026
- Modulatory role of eIF6 in melanoma-acquired resistance to vemurafenib. Kyriakopoulos G., Petropoulou A., Bania A., Anastogianni A., Stamatakis V., Alexiou A., Day C.-P., Merlino G., Grafanaki K. & Stathopoulos C. FEBS Lett Submitted 2026
- Comprehensive post-transcriptional modification profiles in individual Staphylococcus aureus tRNA species. Jaramillo-Ponce J.R., Wolff P., Marchand M., Motorin Y., Kohl M., Chane-Woon-Ming B., Kanazawa H., Ruiz-Paterson A., Paulus C., Chicher J., Lenon M., Krämer M., Gribling-Burrer A-S., Stathopoulos C., Smyth R., Helm M., Romby P. & Marzi S. Nucleic Acids Res Submitted 2026
Work with the group
We host undergraduate, MSc, PhD and postdoctoral researchers working across RNA biology.