# RNA modifications and Gene Expression (Michaela Frye)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/epigenetics-podcast-809637/rna-modifications-and-gene-expression-michaela-frye
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/epigenetics-podcast-809637/rna-modifications-and-gene-expression-michaela-frye.md
Podcast: [Epigenetics Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/epigenetics-podcast-809637)
Published: 2026-03-26T07:01:00+00:00
Episode link: https://activemotif.podbean.com/e/rna-modifications-and-gene-expression-michaela-frye/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/tm4v95rs5isb86e9/AMP171_-_Michaela_Frye8532d.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/epigenetics-podcast-809637/episodes/rna-modifications-and-gene-expression-michaela-frye
Duration seconds: 2720

## Resource

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Michaela Frye from he German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg about her work on the role of RNA modifications and RNA binding proteins in gene expression and cancer development. Central to Dr. Frey’s work is the NSUN family of RNA-modifying proteins, which she first encountered during her postdoctoral research. Initially perceived as a DNA methyltransferase, she unwittingly discovered that this family also plays vital roles in RNA methylation. Her exploration revealed that these proteins significantly affect gene stability and translation processes, especially under stress, making them critical players in cancer pathology. As her research progressed, Frey transitioned into her own lab, where she continued exploring RNA modifications in the context of skin and cancer cells. She emphasizes the critical distinction between the roles of different RNA modifications in various cellular contexts, especially highlighting the differences between steady-state stem cells and those undergoing differentiation or stress responses. Frey's lab investigates how these modifications regulate translational processes, which are essential for cellular adaptation to environmental changes. Frey further discusses her findings related to the NSUN proteins in stem cell function and their implications for germ cell differentiation in testes. This intricate relationship between RNA modifications and cellular dynamics underscores the significance of epitranscriptomics in understanding cancer treatment resistance and cellular adaptation mechanisms. Recent findings from her team at DKFZ show a compelling connection between mitochondrial function and RNA modifications in cancer cells. Frey articulates a newfound interest in how thes…

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