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Profile

Homa Ghalei

  • Department of Biochemistry
    Associate Professor
  • homa.ghalei@emory.edu
  • Lab website
  • Emory University School of Medicine
    Department of Biochemistry
    1510 Clifton Rd., Room 4025 RRC
Head shot of Homa Ghalei

Overview

Ghalei lab studies the assembly, turnover and regulatory roles of box C/D snoRNPs in the cell. We use an arsenal of techniques incorporating RNA and protein biochemistry, X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, mass spectrometry, cell biology and yeast genetics. We believe that a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the assembly and turnover of box C/D snoRNPs will shed light on their regulatory role in cellular processes and will reveal promising new therapeutic targets against cancers and other diseases linked to the perturbation of box C/D snoRNPs.

Academic Appointment

  • Assistant Professor, Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine

Research

Publications

  • Comparative analyses of disease-linked missense mutations in the RNA exosome modeled in budding yeast reveal distinct functional consequences in translation.
    RNA
    04/17/2025 Authors: Sterrett MC; Cureton LA; Cohen LN; van Hoof A; Khoshnevis S; Fasken MB; Corbett AH; Ghalei H
  • Comparative analyses of disease-linked missense mutations in the RNA exosome modeled in budding yeast reveal distinct functional consequences in translation.
    bioRxiv
    03/19/2025 Authors: Sterrett MC; Cureton LA; Cohen LN; van Hoof A; Khoshnevis S; Fasken MB; Corbett AH; Ghalei H
  • Built differently or defective: can RNA exosomopathies cause ribosome heterogeneity?
    Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci Volume: 380 Page(s): 20230382
    03/06/2025 Authors: Bressman ZJ; Corbett AH; Ghalei H
  • TGF-1-mediated intercellular signaling fuels cooperative cellular invasion.
    Cell Rep Volume: 44 Page(s): 115315
    02/25/2025 Authors: Khatib TO; Pedro BA; Bombin S; Matsuk VY; Robinson IE; Webster SF; Marcus LJ; Summerbell ER; Tharp GK; Knippler CM
  • New ZNHIT3 Variants Disrupting snoRNP Assembly Cause Prenatal PEHO Syndrome with Isolated Hydrops.
    medRxiv
    08/26/2024 Authors: Rahman ML; Bonnard AA; Wang F; Ruaud L; Guimiot F; Li Y; Defer I; Wang Y; Marchand V; Motorin Y
  • A biallelic variant of the RNA exosome gene, EXOSC4, associated with neurodevelopmental defects impairs RNA exosome function and translation.
    J Biol Chem Volume: 300 Page(s): 107571
    08/01/2024 Authors: Fasken MB; Leung SW; Cureton LA; Al-Awadi M; Al-Kindy A; van Hoof A; Khoshnevis S; Ghalei H; Al-Maawali A; Corbett AH
  • Differential roles of putative arginine fingers of AAA+ ATPases Rvb1 and Rvb2.

    05/13/2024 Authors: Warnock JL; Ball JA; Najmi SM; Henes M; Vazquez A; Koshnevis S; Wieden H-J; Conn GL; Ghalei H
  • The putative RNA helicase DDX1 associates with the nuclear RNA exosome and modulates RNA/DNA hybrids (R-loops).
    J Biol Chem Volume: 300 Page(s): 105646
    02/01/2024 Authors: de Amorim JL; Leung SW; Haji-Seyed-Javadi R; Hou Y; Yu DS; Ghalei H; Khoshnevis S; Yao B; Corbett AH
  • A Biallelic Variant of the RNA Exosome Gene EXOSC4 Causes Translational Defects Associated with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder.
    medRxiv
    10/28/2023 Authors: Fasken MB; Leung SW; Cureton LA; Al-Awadi M; Al-Kindy A; Khoshnevis S; Ghalei H; Al-Maawali A; Corbett AH
  • Sinefungin, a natural nucleoside analog of S-adenosyl methionine, impairs the pathogenicity of Candida albicans.
    bioRxiv
    10/15/2023 Authors: Nayak A; Chavarria A; Sanders KN; Ghalei H; Khoshnevis S
  • The RNA helicase DDX1 associates with the nuclear RNA exosome and modulates R-loops.
    bioRxiv
    04/17/2023 Authors: de Amorim JL; Leung SW; Haji-Seyed-Javadi R; Hou Y; Yu DS; Ghalei H; Khoshnevis S; Yao B; Corbett AH
  • RNA structural probing of guanine and uracil nucleotides in yeast.
    PLoS One Volume: 18 Page(s): e0288070
    01/01/2023 Authors: Xiao K; Ghalei H; Khoshnevis S
  • Maturation of small nucleolar RNAs: from production to function.
    RNA Biol Volume: 20 Page(s): 715 - 736
    01/01/2023 Authors: Webster SF; Ghalei H
  • Studies of mutations of assembly factor Hit1 in budding yeast suggest translation defects as the molecular basis for PEHO syndrome.
    J Biol Chem Volume: 298 Page(s): 102261
    09/01/2022 Authors: Dreggors-Walker RE; Cohen LN; Khoshnevis S; Marchand V; Motorin Y; Ghalei H
  • Ribosomal RNA 2'-O-methylations regulate translation by impacting ribosome dynamics.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Volume: 119 Page(s): e2117334119
    03/22/2022 Authors: Khoshnevis S; Dreggors-Walker RE; Marchand V; Motorin Y; Ghalei H
  • Phosphorylation regulates arginine-rich RNA-binding protein solubility and oligomerization.
    J Biol Chem Volume: 297 Page(s): 101306
    11/01/2021 Authors: Kundinger SR; Dammer EB; Yin L; Hurst C; Shapley S; Ping L; Khoshnevis S; Ghalei H; Duong DM; Seyfried NT
  • Practical advice for mentoring and supporting faculty colleagues in STEM fields: Views from mentor and mentee perspectives.
    J Biol Chem Volume: 297 Page(s): 101062
    09/01/2021 Authors: Spangle JM; Ghalei H; Corbett AH
  • An open interface in the pre-80S ribosome coordinated by ribosome assembly factors Tsr1 and Dim1 enables temporal regulation of Fap7.
    RNA Volume: 27 Page(s): 221 - 233
    02/01/2021 Authors: Rai J; Parker MD; Huang H; Choy S; Ghalei H; Johnson MC; Karbstein K; Stroupe ME
  • Quality control of 40S ribosome head assembly ensures scanning competence.
    J Cell Biol Volume: 219
    11/02/2020 Authors: Huang H; Ghalei H; Karbstein K
  • Correction: A kinase-dependent checkpoint prevents escape of immature ribosomes into the translating pool.
    PLoS Biol Volume: 18 Page(s): e3000960
    10/01/2020 Authors: Parker MD; Collins JC; Korona B; Ghalei H; Karbstein K
  • A kinase-dependent checkpoint prevents escape of immature ribosomes into the translating pool.
    PLoS Biol Volume: 17 Page(s): e3000329
    12/01/2019 Authors: Parker MD; Collins JC; Korona B; Ghalei H; Karbstein K
  • A conserved Bcd1 interaction essential for box C/D snoRNP biogenesis.
    J Biol Chem Volume: 294 Page(s): 18360 - 18371
    11/29/2019 Authors: Khoshnevis S; Dreggors RE; Hoffmann TFR; Ghalei H
  • Ribosome biogenesis factor Ltv1 chaperones the assembly of the small subunit head.
    J Cell Biol Volume: 217 Page(s): 4141 - 4154
    12/03/2018 Authors: Collins JC; Ghalei H; Doherty JR; Huang H; Culver RN; Karbstein K
  • The ATPase Fap7 Tests the Ability to Carry Out Translocation-like Conformational Changes and Releases Dim1 during 40S Ribosome Maturation.
    Mol Cell Volume: 68 Page(s): 1155
    12/21/2017 Authors: Ghalei H; Trepreau J; Collins JC; Bhaskaran H; Strunk BS; Karbstein K
  • The ATPase Fap7 Tests the Ability to Carry Out Translocation-like Conformational Changes and Releases Dim1 during 40S Ribosome Maturation.
    Mol Cell Volume: 67 Page(s): 990 - 1000.e3
    09/21/2017 Authors: Ghalei H; Trepreau J; Collins JC; Bhaskaran H; Strunk BS; Karbstein K
  • Rps26 directs mRNA-specific translation by recognition of Kozak sequence elements.
    Nat Struct Mol Biol Volume: 24 Page(s): 700 - 707
    09/01/2017 Authors: Ferretti MB; Ghalei H; Ward EA; Potts EL; Karbstein K
  • Structural Heterogeneity in Pre-40S Ribosomes.
    Structure Volume: 25 Page(s): 329 - 340
    02/07/2017 Authors: Johnson MC; Ghalei H; Doxtader KA; Karbstein K; Stroupe ME
  • Hrr25/CK1-directed release of Ltv1 from pre-40S ribosomes is necessary for ribosome assembly and cell growth.
    J Cell Biol Volume: 208 Page(s): 745 - 759
    03/16/2015 Authors: Ghalei H; Schaub FX; Doherty JR; Noguchi Y; Roush WR; Cleveland JL; Stroupe ME; Karbstein K
  • Entrapment of DNA in an intersubunit tunnel system of a single-stranded DNA-binding protein.
    Nucleic Acids Res Volume: 42 Page(s): 6698 - 6708
    06/01/2014 Authors: Ghalei H; von Moeller H; Eppers D; Sohmen D; Wilson DN; Loll B; Wahl MC
  • Structural basis for the dual U4 and U4atac snRNA-binding specificity of spliceosomal protein hPrp31.
    RNA Volume: 17 Page(s): 1655 - 1663
    09/01/2011 Authors: Liu S; Ghalei H; Lhrmann R; Wahl MC
  • A novel Nop5-sRNA interaction that is required for efficient archaeal box C/D sRNP formation.
    RNA Volume: 16 Page(s): 2341 - 2348
    12/01/2010 Authors: Ghalei H; Hsiao H-H; Urlaub H; Wahl MC; Watkins NJ
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