Prof. Rozners' research interests are in the chemistry and biochemistry of nucleic acids with a focus on RNA structure and function elucidation. The 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. The current projects include design, synthesis, and biophysical exploration of RNA analogs having non-phosphorous internucleoside linkages. Amide-linked RNA has the structural features of both nucleic acids and proteins and is of particular interest as an intriguing model system to study biopolymer recognition and for design of artificial enzymes and therapeutic agents. Other interesting modifications are RNA analogues having formacetal internucleoside linkages. Modified RNAs have therapeutic potential in antisense, antigene and RNA interference applications. More efficient routes to make highly modified nucleic acid analogs are being sought to make them more readily available for further evaluation.

Prof. Rozner’s research is interdisciplinary in nature, involving exploratory studies on synthetic organic methodology including combinatorial chemistry (e.g., catalytic enantioselective Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction), total synthesis of natural products and their analogues (e.g., modified RNA, aminoglycosides), and the study of biochemical and biophysical properties of the synthesized analogues. Methods such as UV thermal denaturation and osmotic stress are used to characterize modified oligonucleotides.

Selected Publication

Rozners, Eriks; Katkevica, Dace; Stroemberg, Roger. Oligoribonucleotide analogues containing a mixed backbone of phosphodiester and formacetal internucleoside linkages, together with vicinal 2'-O-methyl groups. ChemBioChem 2007, 8, 537-545.

Xu, Q.; Katkevica, D.; Rozners, E. Toward Amide Modified RNA: Synthesis of 3'-Aminomethyl-5'-Carboxy-3',5'-Dideoxy Nucleosides. J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71, 5906-5913.  PDF

Rozners, E.; Smicius, R.; Uchiyama, C. Expanding Functionality of RNA: Synthesis and Properties of RNA Containing Imidazole Modified Tandem G-U Wobble Base Pairs. Chem. Commun. 2005, 5778-5780. PDF