Douglas Bernstein
Associate Professor of Biology
Education
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2007-2015
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, WI
Ph.D. Biomolecular Chemistry, 2001-2006
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, NJ
B.S. Biochemistry, 1997-2001
Research Interests
My general interests are in RNA processing and modification.
Specific Goal: We investigate pseudouridylation in the human fungal pathogen C. albicans.
- Molecular biology and biochemistry
- Medical mycology
- RNA processing and metabolism
- Genetics
A principle reason for the absence of more effective antifungal therapeutics is that we do not have sufficient knowledge about the basic biology of fungi, and what distinguishes them from humans at the molecular level. My lab’s research has identified several fundamental aspects of RNA metabolism that distinguish fungi from humans. We leverage a broad range of biological, biochemical, and biophysical tools to characterize clinically relevant features of fungal RNA metabolism in the human pathogen C. albicans. Our work aims to advance our understanding of RNA processing variation, and has the potential to lead to the discovery of novel antifungal compounds.


Select Publications
Pickerill E. S*#, Kurtz R. #, Tharp A.P. #, Gurrero Sanz P. #, Begum M., Bernstein D.A.Ŧ (2019) “Pseudouridine synthase 7 impacts Candida albicans rRNA processing and morphological plasticity” YEAST
Pickerill E. S.* #, Evans B.A.* #, Vyas V.K., Bernstein D.A.Ŧ (2018) “CRISPR mediated genome editing in the human fungal pathogen C. albicans” JoVE Nov 14 (141) 2018.
Evans, B.A.* #, Smith, O.L.* #, Pickerill, E.S. #, York, M.K. #, Buenconsejo K.J.P. #, Chambers, A.E. #,Bernstein, D.A.Ŧ “Restriction digest screening facilitates efficient detection of site-directed mutations introduced by CRISPR in C. albicans UME6” PeerJ June 6 2018
Vyas K.V., Buskin G.G., Bernstein D.A., Getz, M.A., Sewastianik, M, Barrasa, M.A., Bartel, D.P, and Fink, G.R.Ŧ “New CRISPR mutagenesis strategies reveal variation in repair mechanisms among fungi” mSphere Mar/April 2018 Vol 3 (2) 1-14
Bernstein D.A.Ŧ “Training Tips: Tools to Teach Pipetting in the Laboratory and Classroom” American Biology Teacher Sept 2018
Bernstein D.A.*, Schwartz S.*, Mumbach M.R.*, Jovanovic M., Herbst R.H., León-Ricardo B.X, Engreitz J.M., Guttman M., Satija R., Lander E.S., Fink G.R., Regev A. (2014) “ Transcriptome wide mapping reveals widespread dynamic pseudouridylation of ncRNA and mRNAs” CELL 159 (1): 148–162.
Bernstein D.A.*, Marceau A. H.*, Walsh B.W., Shapiro W., Simmons L.A., Keck J.L. (2013) “Protein interactions in genome maintenance as novel antimicrobial targets” PLOS1 ;8(3).
Bernstein D.A., Vyas V.K., Fink G.R. Commentary on “Candida albicans Dicer (Dcr1) is required for efficient ribosomal and spliceosomal RNA maturation” RNA Biology 9(9):1123-8.
Bernstein D.A.*, Rolfe A.P.*, Grisafi P., Fink G.R., Gifford D.K. (2012) “Ruler Arrays Reveal Haploid Genome Structural Variation” PLOS1 ;7(8).
Douglas A. Bernstein. (2012) Identification of small molecules that disrupt SSB/protein interactions using a high-throughput screen. “Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins: Methods and Protocols” James L. Keck, Methods in Molecular Biology Humana Press, John Walker; 922:183-91.
Bernstein D.A.*, Vyas1 V.K.*, Weinberg D.E., Drinnenberg I.A., Bartel D.P., Fink G.R. (2012) “Candida albicans Dicer (Dcr1) is required for efficient ribosomal and spliceosomal RNA maturation.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science U S A 109(2):523-8.
Dowell R.D., Ryan O, Jansen A, Cheung D, Agarwala S, Danford T, Bernstein D.A., Rolfe P.A., Heisler L.E., Chin B, Nislow C, Giaever G, Phillips P.C., Fink G.R., Gifford D.K., Boone C. (2010) “Genotype to phenotype: a complex problem.” Science. 328(5977):469.
Bernstein D.A.*, Lu D*, Satyshur K.A., Keck J.L. (2009) “Small-molecule tools for dissecting the roles of SSB/protein interactions in genome maintenance.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science U S A. 107(2):633-8.
* these authors contributed equally to this work