Dr Nikolay Shirokikh is a biochemist and molecular biologist interested in mechanisms underlying the decoding of genetic information. Instructions on how, when and where to make proteins to fulfil the ever-changing requirements of the living cells are encoded in the ribonucleic acid messages (messenger(m)RNA). Translation of mRNA into protein is central to all life. Mechanisms regulating translation are important for cell survival and wellbeing.

In eukaryotic cells, where production of each type or variant of protein can be individually regulated, translational control is especially complex. Control of protein synthesis is directly involved in the processes critical for multicellular eukaryotes, such as cell differentiation, synaptic plasticity, adaptation and pro- and counter-survival decision making of the somatic and germline cells. Malignant cells utilise alternative translation pathways to survive and escape treatment through drug resistance.

The primary interest of Dr Shirokikh is to obtain deep knowledge of eukaryotic translation that will allow to decipher, and eventually manipulate, the mRNA regulatory elements responsible for mRNA-wise regulation of protein synthesis. Dr Shirokikh has a particular interest and expertise in mammalian translation, but also works with yeast when accessibility of genetics is necessary. He uses a variety of molecular biology, biophysics, biochemistry and genetics approaches applied to synthetic systems that model in vivo molecular interactions, and also works directly with live cells. He is currently using high-throughput RNA sequencing methods to obtain the new knowledge of how different eukaryotic mRNAs can control their translation.