RNA Biology

E-mail: javier.martinez(at)meduniwien.ac.at
Phone: 0043-1-4277-61803
Research Group: https://www.maxperutzlabs.ac.at/research/research-groups/martinez
Institution: Max Perutz Labs/MedUni Wien

Full member of the DoktoratsKolleg (DK) RNA Biology since 2007.
Full member of the Focus Regulatory RNA (SFB RNA-REG) since 2015.

PhD students within/associated to the DK:

Dhaarsini Koneswarakantha
Igor Asanovic
Ameya Khandekar

DK RNA Biology Alumni:

Paola Hentges Pinto: “Identification of ANGEL as a novel and unique eukaryotic family of RNA 2′, 3′-cyclic phosphatases”
Johannes Popow: “Identification and characterization of a human tRNA ligase complex”
Sabrina Bandini: “Characterization of the cellular function of the 5′ polinucleotide kinase NOL9”
Theresa Henkel: “Cytoplasmic functions of the tRNA ligase complex in health and disease”

For complete list of group members please visit the Martinez group website.

Our research:

Our laboratory combines biochemistry, bioinformatics, PAR-CLIP and mouse knockout models to study novel enzymes that phosphorylate RNA molecules and ligate pre-tRNAs and pre-mRNAs during non-canonical splicing.
In vitro and in silico approaches allow a profound mechanistic and structural understanding of these enzymatic activities.
In vivo analysis promises to reveal connections between RNA metabolism and disease.

Publications: 

 

The RNA ligase RtcB reverses MazF-induced ribosome heterogeneity in Escherichia coli.
Temmel H, Müller C, Sauert M, Vesper O, Reiss A, Popow J, Martinez J, Moll I.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 May 5;45(8):4708-4721.

A code within a code: how codons influence mRNA stability.
Martinez J, Zagrovic B.
EMBO J. 2016 Oct 4;35(19):2064-2065.

CLP1 as a novel player in linking tRNA splicing to neurodegenerative disorders.
Weitzer S, Hanada T, Penninger JM, Martinez J.
Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA. 2015 Jan-Feb;6(1):47-63.

The mammalian tRNA ligase complex mediates splicing of XBP1 mRNA and controls antibody secretion in plasma cells.
Jurkin J, Henkel T, Nielsen AF, Minnich M, Popow J, Kaufmann T, Heindl K, Hoffmann T, Busslinger M, Martinez J.
EMBO J. 2014 Dec 17;33(24):2922-36.

Analysis of orthologous groups reveals archease and DDX1 as tRNA splicing factors.
Popow J, Jurkin J, Schleiffer A, Martinez J.
Nature. 2014 Jul 3;511(7507):104-7.

Human CLP1 mutations alter tRNA biogenesis, affecting both peripheral and central nervous system function.
Karaca E, Weitzer S, Pehlivan D, Shiraishi H, Gogakos T, Hanada T, Jhangiani SN, Wiszniewski W, Withers M, Campbell IM, Erdin S, Isikay S, Franco LM, Gonzaga-Jauregui C, Gambin T, Gelowani V, Hunter JV, Yesil G, Koparir E, Yilmaz S, Brown M, Briskin D, Hafner M, Morozov P, Farazi TA, Bernreuther C, Glatzel M, Trattnig S, Friske J, Kronnerwetter C, Bainbridge MN, Gezdirici A, Seven M, Muzny DM, Boerwinkle E, Ozen M; Baylor Hopkins Center for Mendelian Genomics, Clausen T, Tuschl T, Yuksel A, Hess A, Gibbs RA, Martinez J, Penninger JM, Lupski JR.
Cell. 2014 Apr 24;157(3):636-50.

Intron excision from precursor tRNA molecules in mammalian cells requires ATP hydrolysis and phosphorylation of tRNA-splicing endonuclease components.
Mair B, Popow J, Mechtler K, Weitzer S, Martinez J.
Biochem Soc Trans. 2013 Aug;41(4):831-7.

miR-100 suppresses IGF2 and inhibits breast tumorigenesis by interfering with proliferation and survival signaling.
Gebeshuber CA, Martinez J.
Oncogene. 2013 Jul 4;32(27):3306-10.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is induced by microRNA-193a and its downregulation of WT1.
Gebeshuber CA, Kornauth C, Dong L, Sierig R, Seibler J, Reiss M, Tauber S, Bilban M, Wang S, Kain R, Böhmig GA, Moeller MJ, Gröne HJ, Englert C, Martinez J, Kerjaschki D.
Nat Med. 2013 Apr;19(4):481-7.

CLP1 links tRNA metabolism to progressive motor-neuron loss.
Hanada T, Weitzer S, Mair B, Bernreuther C, Wainger BJ, Ichida J, Hanada R, Orthofer M, Cronin SJ, Komnenovic V, Minis A, Sato F, Mimata H, Yoshimura A, Tamir I, Rainer J, Kofler R, Yaron A, Eggan KC, Woolf CJ, Glatzel M, Herbst R, Martinez J, Penninger JM.
Nature. 2013 Mar 28;495(7442):474-80.

Diversity and roles of (t)RNA ligases.
Popow J, Schleiffer A, Martinez J.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2012 Aug;69(16):2657-70.

HSPC117 is the essential subunit of a human tRNA splicing ligase complex.
Popow J, Englert M, Weitzer S, Schleiffer A, Mierzwa B, Mechtler K, Trowitzsch S, Will CL, Lührmann R, Söll D, Martinez J.
Science. 2011 Feb 11;331(6018):760-4.

Nol9 is a novel polynucleotide 5′-kinase involved in ribosomal RNA processing.
Heindl K, Martinez J.
EMBO J. 2010 Dec 15;29(24):4161-71.

MicroRNAs cross the line: the battle for mRNA stability enters the coding sequence.
Nielsen AF, Gloggnitzer J, Martinez J.
Mol Cell. 2009 Jul 31;35(2):139-40.

Ars2 and the Cap-Binding Complex Team up for Silencing.

Nielsen AF, Gloggnitzer J, Martinez J.
Cell. 2009 Jul 23;138(2):224-6.

The TLR-independent DNA recognition pathway in murine macrophages: Ligand features and molecular signature.
Karayel E, Bürckstümmer T, Bilban M, Dürnberger G, Weitzer S, Martinez J, Superti-Furga G.
Eur J Immunol. 2009 Jul;39(7):1929-36.

miR-29a suppresses tristetraprolin, which is a regulator of epithelial polarity and metastasis.
Gebeshuber CA, Zatloukal K, Martinez J.
EMBO Rep. 2009 Apr;10(4):400-5.

Target site effects in the RNA interference and microRNA pathways.
Obernosterer G, Tafer H, Martinez J.
Biochem Soc Trans. 2008 Dec;36(Pt 6):1216-9.

The impact of target site accessibility on the design of effective siRNAs.
Tafer H, Ameres SL, Obernosterer G, Gebeshuber CA, Schroeder R, Martinez J, Hofacker IL.
Nat Biotechnol. 2008 May;26(5):578-83.