Michael J. Turner, Ph.D.

Ph.D. – (Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, 2011) Yale University

M.S. – (Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, 2007) Yale University

B.S. – (Biochemistry, 2005) Brigham Young University

Expertise

Regulation of Gene Expression

Courses Taught

BIOL 111 (Introductory Molecular Biology), 221 (Genetics), 406 (Biochemistry II), 420 (Molecular Biology), 520 (Molecular Genetics)

Research interests

My laboratory has focused on the regulation of gene expression that is mediated by small RNA molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs). The miRNA family of genes function by base-pairing with messenger RNA (mRNA) targets and preventing those targets from being translated into protein. This process results in the silencing of target genes, and has been demonstrated in most eukaryotic organisms.

The base-pairing of miRNAs to target mRNAs is typically imperfect in nature, a phenomenon that allows a single miRNA to silence many targets of similar (albeit not identical) sequence. However, this imperfect base-pairing between miRNAs and their targets makes computational predictions of miRNA:target interactions based soley on sequence very undependable. As such, computer-generated predictions of miRNA:target interactions must be validated experimentally.

We are trying to develop a complete, C. elegans miRNA:target “interactome” that fully maps and accurately accounts for all of the miRNA:target interactions in this simple organism. We hope that by doing so, we will come to fully understand the role of miRNAs in regulating gene expression systemically and the cellular and physiological effects of miRNA-mediated regulation on development and homeostasis.

lab members

• Alexis Manning – Spring 2019-2020 (Honors)
• Scott Korte – Spring 2019-2020 (Honors)
• Colette Robinson – Spring 2019-2020
• Elizabeth Shodiya – Fall 2018 – present
• Jameela Buchanan – Spring 2018 – present
• Laura Kingman – Fall 2018-2020
• Sara Frue – Fall 2017 – Spring 2018
• Josh Okletey – Fall 2017 – Spring 2018, Academic Lab Technician
• Chris Homick - Fall 2017  – Spring 2019, Biotech Lab Technician
• Francis Stump - Spring 2017 – Spring 2019, PhD Program UMD
• Natasha Akomeah - Spring 2017 – (Honors) Spring 2019
• Aidan McCormick – (Honors) Spring 2017 – Spring 2018, Dental School
• Ciara Alvarez – Fall 2016
• Marian Ruf – Fall 2016
• Nicole Krevetsky – Spring 2016 – Fall 2016 – Physical Therapy School
• Grace Wagler – Spring 2016 – Spring 2017 (Honors) – Peace Corps
• Kelvin Iloanya - Spring 2016
• Deborah Ukaegbu – Spring 2016 – Spring 2018
• Johanna Papa – Fall 2015 – Spring 2017 (Honors) – University of Florida, PhD program in Chemistry
• Jimmy Larkin – Fall 2015 – Spring 2018 (Honors) – RICE University, PhD Program in Chemistry
• Steph Rurkowski – Spring 2015 - Spring 2016 (Honors) – Aimed at Graduate School in Chemistry
• Rachel Craig – Spring 2015 - Spring 2016 (Honors) – Physical Therapy School
• Kelly Dawkins – Spring 2015 - Spring 2016 (Honors) – Biotechnician at Canon Life Sciences
• Aurea Florindo-Soares – Spring 2015 – Spring 2016 – Laboratory Technician at Hershey Medical Center
• Jianne DeRaya – Fall 2014 – Spring 2017 (Honors) – Pharmacology School
• Justin Garvin - Fall 2014 - Spring 2016. Med School – OD
• Florence Mazhowu – Fall 2014 – Fall 2015
• Leeza Faraone – Summer 2014 – Spring 2016 – Med School
• Justin Cox – Detrick Summer 2014 – Spring 2015. MSMU MS Program in Biotechnology and Management
• Karalee Watts - Spring 2014 – Spring 2015 (Honors)
• Jessica Rosano – Spring 2014 – Spring 2015
• Anthony Spellman – Spring 2014, Detrick Summer 2014, - Fall 2015. Chatham University MS Program/Med School
• Courtney Hill – Fall 2013. Transferred to University of MD
• Lindsay Lawrence – Fall 2013. Current Status: Lives in Australia

Turner, M.J.; Slack, F.J. Transcriptional control of microRNA expression in C. elegans: promoting better understanding. RNA Biol., 6, 2009, pg. 49-53.

Inukai, S.; Turner, M.J.; de Lencastre, A.; Slack, F.J. Novel MicroRNAs Differentially Expressed during Aging in the Mouse Brain. PloS One, 7, 2012, e40028

Turner, M.J.; Jiao, A.L.; Slack, F.J. Autoregulation of lin-4 microRNA transcription by RNA activation (RNAa) in C. elegans. Cell Cycle, 13(5), 2014, pg. 772-781.

Turner, M.J.; Cox, J.K.; Spellman, A.C.; Stahl, C.; Bavari, S. Avoidance Behaviors Independent of Innate-Immune Signaling Seen in C. elegans Challenged with Bacillus anthracis. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 2019, Epub ahead of publication, doi:10.1016/j.dci.2019.103453.