Faculty Profile
Quentin Vicens
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
Research Division: Biochemistry (Primary)
Office: Science & Engineering Research Center (SERC), 4021
Lab: SERC, W4010
Contact: qvicens@uh.edu
Education: Sc.D., University of Strasbourg, France (2015); Ph.D., University of Strasbourg, France (2002); B.Sc., University of Strasbourg, France (1997)
RNA shapes in three dimensions influence RNA functions. We explore this relationship in the context of messenger RNA and how its function is modulated by proteins, small molecules and chemical modifications. We use approaches from biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, sequencing and bioinformatics. Our focus areas are Z-RNA biology, RNA structure determination & prediction, and targeted gene integration.
Quentin Vicens, Sc.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77204-5001
Office: SERC, 4021
Phone: 713-743-2696
qvicens@uh.edu
Chrysa Latrick, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77204-5001
Office: SERC, 4023
Phone: 713-743-9782
cmlatric@central.uh.edu
Courtney Le
Researcher 1 Nat Phys Science
Z-RNA biology
- Nichols PJ, Krall JB, Henen MA, Welty R, Macfadden A, Vicens Q*, Vögeli B. Z-Form Adoption of Nucleic Acid is a Multi-Step Process Which Proceeds through a Melted Intermediate. J Am Chem Soc. 2024 Jan 10;146(1):677-694. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c10406. Epub 2023 Dec 22. PMID: 38131335.
- Langeberg CJ, Nichols PJ, Henen MA, Vicens Q*, Vögeli B. Differential Structural Features of Two Mutant ADAR1p150 Zα Domains Associated with Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome. J Mol Biol. 2023 Apr 15;435(8):168040. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168040. Epub 2023 Mar 7. PMID: 36889460; PMCID: PMC10109538.
- Nichols PJ, Krall JB, Henen MA, Vögeli B, Vicens Q*. Z-RNA biology: a central role in the innate immune response? RNA. 2023 Mar;29(3):273-281. doi: 10.1261/rna.079429.122. Epub 2023 Jan 3. PMID: 36596670; PMCID: PMC9945438.
RNA structure determination & prediction
- Bonilla SL, Vicens Q, Kieft JS. Cryo-EM reveals an entangled kinetic trap in the folding of a catalytic RNA. Sci Adv. 2022 Aug 26;8(34):eabq4144. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abq4144. Epub 2022 Aug 26. PMID: 36026457; PMCID: PMC9417180.
- Vicens Q*, Kieft JS. Thoughts on how to think (and talk) about RNA structure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Apr 26;119(17):e2112677119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2112677119. Epub 2022 Apr 19. PMID: 35439059; PMCID: PMC9169933.
- Steckelberg AL, Vicens Q, Costantino DA, Nix JC, Kieft JS. The crystal structure of a Polerovirus exoribonuclease-resistant RNA shows how diverse sequences are integrated into a conserved fold. RNA. 2020 Dec;26(12):1767-1776. doi: 10.1261/rna.076224.120. Epub 2020 Aug 26. PMID: 32848042; PMCID: PMC7668246.
Additional publications featured on Dr. Vicens’ Google Scholar profile.
Honors & Awards
- 2021 & 2019: H1 Connect Faculty Member of the Year Award for Chemical Biology
- 2013: Distinguished Educator, Turning Technologies
Organizations, Outreach, Boards, Memberships
- 2023-Present: Keck Center for Quantitative Biomedical Science Training, Gulf Coast Consortia (Faculty Affiliate)
- 2023-Present: RNA Society Education Committee
- 2023-Present: Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Faculty Member
- 2023-Present: ASBMB (Member)
- 2023-Present: SACNAS, Professional 3 Member
- 2021-Present: Annual ABZ Meeting: Biology of Z-form Nucleic Acids, Co-founder and Co-organizer
- 2018-Present: Thesis Committee Member: University of Houston, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Lehigh University
- 2022-Present: Emerging Aspects in Drug Discovery, Guest Editor
- 2020: Frontiers in RNA Structure, Guest Editor
- 2018-2023: Graduate Program in Structural Biology & Biochemistry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Faculty Member
- 2000-Present: RNA Society, Member
- 1998-Present: French Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Member