Organisation profile
Organisation profile
We want to understand how gene regulatory pathways control animal development. There are currently more than 150 diverse chemical modifications found on RNA. RNA modifications affect gene expression by regulating RNA processing, stability and expression. We are using the C. elegans germline development as a model system to study the role of RNA modifications in germ cell proliferation and differentiation.
We aim to
- develop new methodologies to identify modified RNAs
- characterise the biological role of RNA modifying enzymes
- study the interactions between cellular metabolism and RNA modifications
Our research is currently supported by a prestigious UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship (UKRI-FLF) awarded to Dr Alper Akay.
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Alper Akay
- School of Biological Sciences - UKRI Future Leaders Fellow
- Cells and Tissues - Member
- RNA (epi)Genetics Lab - Group Lead
Person: Group Lead, Research Group Member, Academic, Teaching and Research
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Katarzyna Hencel
- School of Biological Sciences - Senior Research Associate
- RNA (epi)Genetics Lab - Member
Person: Member, Research and Analogous
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Tim Pearson
- School of Biological Sciences - Senior Research Associate
- RNA (epi)Genetics Lab - Member
Person: Member, Research and Analogous
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Pre-mRNA splicing regulation in human cancers by snRNA modification Studentship
Akay, A. (Principal Investigator) & Williams, M. (Co-Investigator)
1/10/25 → 30/09/29
Project: Training
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The function of the RNA methylome in animals
Akay, A. (Principal Investigator)
1/03/24 → 28/02/27
Project: Fellowship
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A Multiwavelength Analytical Centrifuge platform for Solute Characterisation
Clarke, T. (Principal Investigator), Akay, A. (Co-Investigator), Butt, J. (Co-Investigator), Crichton, P. (Co-Investigator), Gates, A. (Co-Investigator), Le Brun, N. (Co-Investigator), Rowley, G. (Co-Investigator), Swainsbury, D. (Co-Investigator) & Hall, A. (Technician)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1/08/24 → 31/07/25
Project: Research
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Widespread intron retention and exon skipping characterise alternative splicing changes in a C. elegans model of spinal muscular atrophy
Rashid, S., Shen, A., Yong, A., Akay, A. & Dimitriadi, M., 2026, In: Human Molecular Genetics. 35, 2, ddaf176.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
A simple, fast and inexpensive approach using E. coli to detect and estimate vitamin B12 content in microbial extracts
Hencel, K., Sullivan, M. J. & Akay, A., Sept 2025, In: Biology Open. 14, 9, bio062017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)1 Downloads (Pure) -
NAIL-MS Elucidates Crucial tRNA U34 Modifications in Response to Heat Stress across Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes
Vicente, A. M., Hencel, K., Schicktanz, J., Hammann, C., Akay, A. & Kaiser, S., 15 Aug 2025, In: Journal of Molecular Biology. 437, 16, 169228.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus)
Activities
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UEA Open Day
Akay, A. (Speaker)
2 Jul 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Open day
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Eaton Primary School visit
Akay, A. (Speaker)
15 Mar 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Schools engagement