Have Questions? We have answers.
Contact Us
Megan Filbin
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Director of CASE
Chemistry and Biochemistry
[email protected]Research Interests
-
I am deeply interested in RNA (and RNP) structure and biochemistry, especially as it pertains to protein synthesis. Specifically, I find viral RNA hijacking of host protein synthesis pathways and molecular mimicry of host non-coding RNAs particularly appealing. My research involves student-driven research projects aimed at probing the RNA structure and function of genomic RNAs from the Blackcurrant reversion nepovirus. In particular, these viral RNAs are thought to bypass many cellular "check points" during the initiation of protein synthesis in a process that is entirely driven by structured regions at the 5' and 3' ends of their RNA genomes. They accomplish this feat by hijacking protein synthesis proteins including the ribosome through an unknown mechanism. My research group aims at determining this mechanism through RNA and protein biochemistry, structural studies and molecular biology techniques.
Teaching Interests
-
My passion for teaching surrounds my interest in biochemistry and in particular nucleic acids biochemistry to include the hands-on integrative teaching in the biochemistry laboratory. As an extension of this, I am currently teaching the Criminalistics II course which covers the biochemistry and technical aspects of forensic DNA biology. I have found that in all aspects of my teaching, I am particularly interested in pedagogy surrounding application of content knowledge, such as experimental design strategy. I am a firm believer that science education should not be restricted to learning scientific laws and facts, but should also teach students how to think scientifically (i.e. the scientific method). Toward this end, I am developing strategies that include in-class group assignments challenging students to design experiments or interpret experimental results with the goal of adopting creative yet methodical scientific thinking skills.
Education
PhD in Molecular Biology
University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Center
BS in Molecular Biology
Univeristy of Denver
Published Works
-
Paukovich, N., Spear, A. E., MacFadden, A., Nowling, N. N., Henen, A. M., Vogeli, B., Filbin, E. M. . Intrinsically Disordered Cytoplasmic Tail in Netrin Receptor DCC Binds the Large Ribosomal Subunit to Inhibit Translation. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Braunecker, W., Srinivasan, S., Martin, J., Filbin, E. M., Gish, M., Mulder, D., Lazorski, M. . BridgING the Gap: An Industry, National, and Government Laboratory Post-Baccalaureate Bridge Program. Journal of Chemical Education.
Filbin, E. M. (2022). Exploring the Structure-Function Relationship in Biochemistry. CUREnet: Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College.
Filbin, E. M., Ruehle, D. M., Hao. (2022). Scientific sisterhood knows no bound(arie)s. ASBMB Today,
Manalastas, J., Spear, E., Filbin, E. M. (2021). Toward Understanding How Deleted in Colorectal Cancer Protein Interacts with mRNA and the Translation Machinery. The FASEB Journal, https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2021.35.S1.02567
Spear, E., Filbin, E. M. (2020). Deleted in Colorectal Cancer Inhibits Protein Synthesis, But How?. The FASEB Journal, https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2020.34.s1.04689
Filbin, E. M., Gonen, T., Kieft, S. J. (2019). Molecular Mechanism of Cue-Induced Translation Regulation. The FASEB Journal, https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.461.6
Baquero Galvis, D. L., Shields, E., Morrison, J. E., Filbin, E. M. (2019). Structural Importance of Genomic RNA1 3' CITE in Blackcurrant Reversion Nepovirus Protein Synthesis. The FASEB Journal, https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.625.2
Bean, M. S., Baquero Galvis, D. L., Morrison, J. E., Filbin, E. M. (2019). Structure-Function Analysis of the 3' CITE from the Blackcurrant Reversion Nepovirus Genomic RNA 2 (BRV2). The FASEB Journal, https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.625.3
Filbin, E. M., Gonen, T., Kieft, S. J. (2018). Mediating Protein Synthesis in Developing Neurons: Netrin Receptor Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC) Binds Eukaryotic Ribosomes to Prevent Translation of Messages Independent of Initiation Mechanism. The FASEB Journal, https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.600.6
Baquero Galvis, D. L., Shields, E., Filbin, E. M. (2018). Unique Structures in the 3' UTR of Blackcurrant Reversion Nepovirus Genomic RNA 1 Promote Translation Initiation. The FASEB Journal, https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.599.4
Filbin, E. M., Gonen, T., Kieft, S. J. (2018). Chemotropic Receptor Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC) Prevents Translation Initiation By Directly Inhibiting Ribosome Function. The FASEB Journal, https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.651.5
Bean, M. S., Baquero Galvis, D. L., Morrison, J. E., Filbin, E. M. (2018). Critical RNA Structures Involved in Translation Initiation Mechanism between 3' CITE and 5' UTR of RNA2 Blackcurrant Reversion Nepovirus (BRV). The FASEB Journal, https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.525.3
Baquero Galvis, D. L., Shields, E., Filbin, E. M. (2018). Importance of Unique Secondary Structures in Genomic RNA1 3' CITE in Blackcurrant Reversion Nepovirus Translation. The FASEB Journal, https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.525.4
Bonham, J. A., Ragan, J. E., Drotar, M. A., Elkins, M. K., Filbin, E. M. (2017). Biochemistry Laboratory Manual CHE 4350. MSU Denver Department of Chemistry,
Filbin, E. M., Kieft, S. J. (2016). Linking Α to Ω: diverse and dynamic RNA-based mechanisms to regulate gene expression by 5′-to-3′ communication. F1000Research, 5(2037), 10. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.7913.1.
Filbin, E. M., Vollmar, S. B., Shi, D., Gonen, T., Kieft, S. J. (2013). HCV IRES manipulates the ribosome to promote the switch from translation initiation to elongation. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 20(2), 150-158. https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb.2465.
Filbin, E. M., Vollmar, B., Shi, D., Gonen, T., Kieft, S. J. (2012). Manipulation of the eukaryotic ribosome by the hepatitis C virus promostes the switch from translation initiation to elongation. Nature Structure & Molecular Biology, 20(2), 150-158. .
Filbin, E. M., Kieft, S. J. (2011). HCV IRES domain IIb affects the configuration of coding RNA in the 40S subunit's decoding groove. RNA, 17(7), 1258-1273. https://doi.org/10.1261/rna.2594011.
Constantineau, J., Greason, E., West, M., Filbin, E. M., Kieft, S. J., Carletti, S. M., Christenson, K. L., Rodriguez, A. (2010). A synonymous variant in scavenger receptor, class B, type I gene is associated with lower SR-B1 protein expression and function. Atherosclerosis, 210(1), 177-182. .
Filbin, E. M., Wallace, A., Veo, B., McFarland, C., Stepinski, J., Jankowska-Anyszka, M., Darzynkiewicz, E., Davis, E. R. (2010). The nematode eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E/G complex works with a trans-spliced leader stem-loop to enable efficient translation of trimethylguanosine-capped RNAs. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 30(8), 1958-1970. https://doi.org/10.1128/mcb.01437-09.
Filbin, E. M., Kieft, S. J. (2009). Toward a structural understanding of IRES RNA function. Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 19(3), 267-276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbi.2009.03.005.
Filbin, E. M., Hammond, A. J., Rambo, P. R., Kieft, S. J. (2009). Comparison and functional implications of the 3D architectures of viral tRNA-like structures. RNA, 15(2), 294-307. https://doi.org/10.1261/rna.1360709.
Kieft, S. J., Costantino, A. D., Filbin, E. M., Hammond, A. J., Pfingsten, P. J. (2007). Structural Methods to Study IRES Function. (430, pp 333-371). Elsevier.