Plant small RNAs biology

The group investigates how small RNAs regulate gene expression, chromatin organization, and plant responses to the environment. We study the biogenesis of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their coupling to transcription, uncovering novel links between gene silencing and environmental adaptation. Our work has revealed unexpected roles for key proteins in this pathway, challenging established paradigms in RNA biology. More recently, we have expanded our focus to examine how small RNAs influence genome structure and evolution, and we are developing CRISPR/Cas9-based tools to remove transposons and enhance crop resilience.