Research Areas
- Genetics & Genomics
- Cell Biology
- Cancer
The Zamudio laboratory studies mechanisms of RNA regulation in health and disease.
Affiliations
- Broad Stem Cell Research Center
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Molecular Cell Developmental Biology
Questions
How are RNAs regulated in health and disease? How can RNA be manipulated to control cellular decisions?
Approach
The Zamudio lab uses biological systems and computational techniques to discover how RNAs function to promote healthy cellular behavior and to determine how their dysfunction contributes to human diseases. We fit mechanisms of RNA regulation into global gene expression programs with goals of predicting and altering cellular decisions. This fundamental research advances our understanding of gene regulation and will lead to new therapeutic approaches for disease treatment.
Our Mission
Our Core Values
About Jesse
Jesse received his Ph.D. in microbiology studying RNA capping and splicing in pathogenic parasites under the mentorship of Dr. David Campbell and Dr. Nancy Sturm. His postdoctoral studies were performed under the mentorship of Dr. Phil Sharp at the MIT Cancer Center. He joined the UCLA faculty in 2016. His research experience spans RNA biochemistry, enzymology, microbiology, cancer and stem cell biology. Originally from the San Fernando Valley, he is a first-generation college student graduating with a B.S. in Chemistry from UCLA. His research interests include characterizing regulatory RNA and RNA splicing in the gene networks that are critical to maintain healthy cells. If he is not in lab, he is likely outdoors: cooking, gardening, looking for an opportunity to build, fix or play something.
Related Topics
Jesse Martinez
Lab Manager
UCLA
Jesse is a Los Angeles native who spent over twenty years in the healthcare logistics industry helping coordinate optimal patient care in the area. He moved to biomedical research to feed a natural passion for learning and teaching. Jesse has implemented several new systems for lab organization, efficient research and team communication. He earned an honorary doctorate degree in Getting Things Done from the Zamudio lab in early 2022. Outside of the lab, he has a well-respected record of community leadership and service in the San Fernando Valley. He is a motorcycle enthusiast and commutes daily to UCLA on one of his Harleys.
jessemartinez77 [at]ucla.edu
Emma Breen
Research Assistant
UCLA Class of '23
Emma finished the first year of her graduate studies at UCLA following an undergraduate degree at Northwestern University. During her time at Northwestern Emma worked in the Pinkett Labs with a focus in molecular biosciences and chemotherapeutics. Emma additionally spent time in the SONIC/ATLAS lab collaborating with NASA’s long-range space missions, working in both Russian and English as part of the HERA research project. Outside of the lab, Emma is pursuing an active career in trumpet performance whilst feeding a graduate-school-level caffeine addiction.
ecb1820 [at]ucla.edu
Rafael Sandoval
Graduate Student
BS, ’16, UCSD, San Diego, CA
Rafael is a native of Long Beach, CA and a PhD student in the Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Program. Before UCLA, Rafael received a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology at the University of California, San Diego and a M.S. in Biology at California State University, Los Angeles where he conducted research in the Hayes lab studying RNA editing in plants. Currently, Rafael is interested in the RNAi machinery’s potential role in regulating the transcription of major satellite ncRNAs from the pericentromere in mESCs. Outside of lab, Rafael enjoys playing video games, playing basketball, visiting Disneyland, hiking, and going to the theaters.
rsandoval723 [at]g.ucla.edu
John Garcia
Undergraduate Researcher
UCLA Class of '23
John is a rising senior majoring in molecular, cell, and developmental biology with a minor in history. Originally from the San Fernando Valley, he came to UCLA as a freshman in 2019. Within the life sciences, John is interested in genetics, gene regulation, and molecular processes in the cell. He has been with the Zamudio lab since early 2022. When he's not in lab John enjoys camping, spending time with his family, playing guitar, whittling, playing video games, and sports.
jcgarcia24 [at]ucla.edu
Vincent Li
Undergraduate Researcher
UCLA Class of '22
Vincent is a Los Angeles native and 4th year undergraduate student majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology with a minor in Biomedical Research. Vincent is interested in both cellular and computational approaches to biomedical research. At UCLA, Vincent has conducted research in the laboratory of Dr. Dan Cohn studying the cellular characteristics pertaining to X-linked chondrodysplasia punctata 2. Currently, Vincent is interested in the characterization of Argonaute and its function outside of the canonical RNAi pathway. In his free time, Vincent enjoys watching movies, playing video games, and playing table tennis.
vincentli [at]ucla.edu
Katherine McLinden
Undergraduate Researcher
UCLA Class of '22
Katherine McLinden is a fourth year undergraduate majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and Theater minor from Maryland. She has been a member of the Zamudio Lab since her sophomore year starting as a work study student and advancing to doing computational research. As an independent researcher in the lab she focuses on the characterization of Argonaute proteins and their function in the nucleus of mammalian cells. Outside of the lab, Katherine is part of one of UCLA’s student run theatre groups, HOOLIGAN Theatre Company, and enjoys riding horses and baking.
katmclinden [at]ucla.edu
Selected publications
Aug 8, 2021
PMID: 34399163
Hancock G.V., Liu W, Peretz L, Chen D, Gell JJ, Collier AJ, Zamudio JR, Plath K, Clark AT
Aug 3, 2021
PMID: 34326251
Tesfaye E., Bendor J., Martinez-Terroba E., Bendor J., Winkler L., Olivero C., Chen K., Feldser D.M., Zamudio J.R.*, Dimitrova N.*
Mitochondrial apoptotic priming is a key determinant of cell fate upon p53 restoration.
June 6, 2021
PMID: 34074758
Sánchez-Rivera F.J., Ryan J., Soto-Feliciano Y.M., Beytagh M.C., Xuan L., Feldser D.M., Hemann M., Zamudio J.R., Dimitrova N., Letai A., Jacks T
p53 activates the long noncoding RNA Pvt1b to inhibit Myc and suppress tumorigenesis.
Feb 20, 2020
PMID: 319738990
Olivero C., Martínez-T erroba E., Zimmer J., Liao C., Hooshdaran N., Tesfaye E., Bendor J., Schofield J., Simon M., Zamudio J.R., Dimitrova N.
Nov 26, 2019
PMID: 31775039
Kelly T.J., Brümmer A., Hooshdaran N., Tariveranmoshabad M., Zamudio J.R.
SCIENCE
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
- UCLA JCCC Epigentic, RNA and Gene Regulation Program
- UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center
- UCLA Department of Molecular Cell Developmental Biology
- UCLA Molecular Biology Institute
- University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
- UCLA Biosciences Postdoctoral Affairs
- UCLA Competitive Research Training Grant Programs
- UCLA Undergraduate Research Center
- UCLA Biomedical Research Minor
- UCLA Core Technology Centers
- UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Events
DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION
- UCLA QCBio Collaboratory
- Complete ggplot2 tutorial
UCLA RESOURCES
- UCLA Ombuds Services
- UCLA Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center
- UCLA Bunche Center for African American Studies
- UCLA Stellar Scientists & Mentor Professors
- UCLA Center for Education Innovation & Learning in the Sciences
- UCLA Academic Advancement Program
- UCLA Office for Students with Disabilities
- Report Discrimination at UCLA
Related News
UCLA Riboforum becomes an official RNA Society Salon
RNA
Sep 1, 2022
Please join our monthly research in progress seminar series. They are held the second Wednesday of each month at 3:30p in Boyer 159
The Noncoding Regulators of the Brain
RNA
Sep 12, 2022
Read about the emerging critcal roles of noncoding RNA in brain development and evolution
Dean Tracy Johnson receives grant to launch undergraduate stem cell training program
Stem Cells
Nov 12, 2022
Open to sophomores and transfer students from two-year colleges
Contact us
Principal Investigator
Jesse R. Zamudio
UCLA MCDB
610 Charles E. Young Drive East
Box 957239
Los Angeles, CA 90095
email: jesse.zamudio [at]ucla.edu
voice: (310)825-4176
Shipping Address
c/o Zamudio Lab at UCLA
Biomedical Sciences Research Building
615 Charles E Young Dr. South
Los Angeles CA 90095-8348
Undergraduate researchers
Jesse was a member of the first UCLEADS undergraduate researcher cohort at UCLA and would welcome any collaboration with serious young researchers. Please visit the UCLA Undergraduate Research Center for information on research at UCLA. Currently there are no openings to join the team. Openings will be updated each quarter here.
Graduate Researchers
We are excited that you are considering UCLA and the Zamudio Lab for your graduate work. Please apply directly to the UCLA Graduate Program in Bioscience. The Zamudio lab's associated home areas are: Gene Regulation · Cell & Developmental Biology
Postdoctoral and research positions
Inquiries are welcome from innovative and dedicated researchers. Please send your curriculum vitae, research statement and references to jesse.zamudio #ucla.edu. All complete applications will be considered.
Directions to the lab
We are located in the Biomedical Sciences Research Building (BSRB) on the UCLA campus. BSRB is located directly across from the Lot 2 parking lot. If driving, daily parking permits in Lot 2 may be difficult to find. Parking along a Santa Monica Big Blue Bus line and riding in is a good alternative since Lot 2 is a terminal stop on most routes.
To find us, enter BSRB through either the North or South side double doors and find the central stairway. Take the stairs to the fourth floor. As you reach the fourth floor, my office (450C) will be immediately through the central double doors on the North side. To reach the lab, turn right off the stairs and walk all the way to the end of the corridor to find BSRB 454. If you get lost, feel free to call. The lab phone number is (310) 825-9527 and Jesse's office phone is (310) 825-4176.