My research investigates the complex molecular interplay between transposable elements (TEs) and host genome regulation. While transposons pose a persistent threat to genomic integrity through insertional mutagenesis and chromosomal instability, they simultaneously act as essential drivers of evolutionary adaptation and regulatory innovation. My laboratory explores this dual nature by dissecting the multi-layered molecular mechanisms that govern transposon repression and opportunistic activation. Approaching TE dynamics from diverse experimental and conceptual angles, we focus particularly on the epigenetic and epitranscriptomic landscapes, including chromatin modifications, small RNA pathways, and post-transcriptional RNA modifications. Deciphering these regulatory layers reveals how cells dynamically dictate TE silencing to safeguard host genomes, while selectively harnessing transposon activity to drive evolutionary diversity.
