Dr. Sebastian Fica

Biography

Sebastian Fica is a researcher in Biochemistry with a keen interest in understanding the molecular structure and dynamics of the spliceosome, which is crucial for tissue-specific splicing and its coupling to transcription. His research focuses on the mechanisms that govern pre-mRNA splicing, a critical process that transforms precursor messenger RNAs into mRNAs by splicing out non-coding introns, thereby ensuring correct protein-coding information is retained. Fica employs advanced techniques such as electron cryo-microscopy to elucidate the structures of catalytic intermediates of the spliceosome, revealing how human-specific proteins impact spliceosome dynamics and regulation of splice site usage. His aim is to dissect in vitro the catalytic stages of human pre-mRNA splicing and to combine biochemical methods with sequencing techniques to gain insights into genome-wide splicing factors operating in vivo within cell cultures. Through his work, he seeks to uncover novel splicing regulators that can offer fundamental insights into the regulation of alternative splicing in specific tissues and developmental stages.

Research Interests