Martin T. Tuck 311 Cutler Hall 740-593-2577 740-593-9591 (Fax) tuck@ohio.edu

Information

Professor Tuck is currently the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (apaa) and no longer maintains an active research group. Previsously we have investigated the chemistry and biological function of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) dependent methylation reactions. I am particularly interested in the formation of 6-methyladenine (m6A) residues in messenger RNA (mRNA) and how this biochemical process relates to mRNA maturation (processing), gene expression and cancer formation. We have demonstrated that alterations in the methylation process of mRNA has a dramatic effect on the biological function of the molecule, and may be a "trigger" by which normal cells undergo a malignant transformation process and result in tumor development.

Selected Publications

Leach, R.A. and Tuck, M.T. Expression of the mRNA (N6-Adenosine)-Methyltransferase S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine Binding Subunit mRNA in Cultured Cells. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 33: 984-999 2001.

Leach, R.A. and Tuck, M.T. Methionine Depletion Induces Transcription of the mRNA (N6-Adenosine)-Methyltransferase. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 33: 1116-1128 2001.

Tuck, M.T., Wiehl, P. and Pan, T. Inhibition of 6-Methyladenine Formation in the mRNA from Methotrexate Resistant Mouse Sarcoma Cells Causes a Decrease in the Translation Efficiency of Dihydrofolate Reductase Transcripts. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 31: 837-851 1999.

Tuck, M.T., James, C.B.L., Kelder, B. and Kopchick, J.J. Elevation of Internal 6-Methyladenine mRNA Methyltransferase Activity After Cellular Transformation. Cancer Letters, 103: 107-113 1996.

Heilman, K.L., Leach, R.A. and Tuck, M.T. Internal 6-Methyladenine Residues Increase the In Vitro Translation Efficiency of Dihydrofolate Reductase Messenger RNA. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 28: 823-829 1996.