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Quentin Jerome Vicens

TitleAsst Professor-Research
InstitutionUniversity of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus
DepartmentSOM-BioChem&Molecular Genetics
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0003-3751-530X Additional info

    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse awards and honors
    2021Faculty Member of the Year (Chemical Biology), Faculty Opinions
    2019Faculty Member of the Year (Chemical Biology) , Faculty Opinions
    2013Distinguished Educator, Turning Technologies
    2003PhD Award, Strasbourg Biology Society
    2003Horizon Award, NPG and University of Frankfurt
    2001 - 2002Fellowship, French Cancer Research Association
    1998 - 2001Fellowship, Sanofi and French Center for National Scientific Research

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    As an Assistant research professor at CU-Anschutz, I have been leading the following projects:
    - computational biology strategies to identify and structurally characterize the expanding repertoire of viral RNA folds (xrRNAs) that resist degradation by cellular exoribonucleases (research with Dr. Jeff Kieft). This led us to characterize xrRNAs from three different classes, using biochemistry, crystallography, cryo-EM, and phylogenetic analysis.

    - novel research area about how transient conformational states involving left-handed Z-RNA may shape our transcriptome. Before joining CU, I had theorized with colleague Dr. Auffinger (French Center for National Scientific Research) that local Z-RNA conformations found within various RNAs must have a functional role. At CU, I developed experimental approaches to determine the exact nature of that role, in collaboration with Beat Vögeli’s lab.

    As of 2023, I am also launching two areas of investigations in (i) developing a web server for RNA structure prediction using evolutionary information (in coll. with Dr. Elena Rivas, Harvard University), and (ii) modulating mRNA expression using small molecules (in coll. with Dr. Hatim Sabaawy, CU Anschutz Division of Medical Oncology). Feel free to contact me for details!

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
    1R21GM148902-01     (Quentin Vicens)Sep 15, 2022 - Sep 14, 2024
    NIH/NIGMS
    An all-in-one web server for RNA structure prediction using evolutionary information
    Role Description: This project aims to create a web-based platform that will reliably assess the existence of a conserved RNA structure and propose such a structure with high accuracy, using evolutionary as well as RNA structure information.
    Role: Principal Investigator
    2153787     (Quentin Vicens)Jul 15, 2022 - Jul 14, 2026
    NSF
    Structural characterization of the mechanism leading to recognition of Alu elements by the Z- RNA-binding domain of ADAR1
    Role Description: The goal is to structurally and dynamically characterize the formation of A- junctions and their recognition by ADAR1 across transcriptomes.
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R21AI157244     (Quentin Vicens)Dec 1, 2020 - Nov 30, 2023
    NIH/NIAID
    Structural determinants of viral RNAs resistant to exoribonucleases in the alphavirus supergroup
    Role Description: The goal of this project is to determine how a novel class of exonuclease- resistant RNAs fold into a compact structure capable of blocking the progression of host cell exoribonucleases and use this information to find more examples of this fold.
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    List All   |   Timeline
    1. Sherlock ME, Baquero Galvis L, Vicens Q, Kieft JS, Jagannathan S. Principles, Mechanisms, and Biological Implications of Translation Termination-Reinitiation. RNA. 2023 Apr 06. PMID: 37024263.
      View in: PubMed
    2. Langeberg CJ, Nichols PJ, Henen MA, Vicens Q, V?geli B. Differential Structural Features of Two Mutant ADAR1p150 Za Domains Associated with Aicardi-Gouti?res Syndrome. J Mol Biol. 2023 Apr 15; 435(8):168040. PMID: 36889460.
      View in: PubMed
    3. Krall JB, Nichols PJ, Henen MA, Vicens Q, V?geli B. Structure and Formation of Z-DNA and Z-RNA. Molecules. 2023 Jan 14; 28(2). PMID: 36677900.
      View in: PubMed
    4. Nichols PJ, Krall JB, Henen MA, V?geli B, Vicens Q. Z-RNA biology: a central role in the innate immune response? RNA. 2023 03; 29(3):273-281. PMID: 36596670.
      View in: PubMed
    5. Nichols PJ, Bevers S, Henen MA, Kieft JS, Vicens Q, V?geli B. Adoption of A-Z Junctions in RNAs by Binding of Za Domains. Methods Mol Biol. 2023; 2651:251-275. PMID: 36892773.
      View in: PubMed
    6. Vicens Q, Westhof E. Brief considerations on targeting RNA with small molecules. Fac Rev. 2022; 11:39. PMID: 36644293.
      View in: PubMed
    7. 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. PMID: 36026457.
      View in: PubMed
    8. Vicens Q, Kieft JS. Thoughts on how to think (and talk) about RNA structure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 04 26; 119(17):e2112677119. PMID: 35439059.
      View in: PubMed
    9. Vicens Q, Kieft JS. Shared properties and singularities of exoribonuclease-resistant RNAs in viruses. Comput Struct Biotechnol J. 2021; 19:4373-4380. PMID: 34471487.
      View in: PubMed
    10. Herbert A, Karapetyan S, Poptsova M, Vasquez KM, Vicens Q, V?geli B. Special Issue: A, B and Z: The Structure, Function and Genetics of Z-DNA and Z-RNA. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jul 19; 22(14). PMID: 34299306.
      View in: PubMed
    11. Nichols PJ, Henen MA, Vicens Q, V?geli B. Solution NMR backbone assignments of the N-terminal Za-linker-Z? segment from Homo sapiens ADAR1p150. Biomol NMR Assign. 2021 10; 15(2):273-279. PMID: 33742389.
      View in: PubMed
    12. Nichols PJ, Bevers S, Henen M, Kieft JS, Vicens Q, V?geli B. Recognition of non-CpG repeats in Alu and ribosomal RNAs by the Z-RNA binding domain of ADAR1 induces A-Z junctions. Nat Commun. 2021 02 04; 12(1):793. PMID: 33542240.
      View in: PubMed
    13. Vicens Q, Bochler A, Jobe A, Frank J, Hashem Y. Interaction Networks of Ribosomal Expansion Segments in Kinetoplastids. Subcell Biochem. 2021; 96:433-450. PMID: 33252739.
      View in: PubMed
    14. Abaeva IS, Vicens Q, Bochler A, Soufari H, Simonetti A, Pestova TV, Hashem Y, Hellen CUT. The Halastavi ?rva Virus Intergenic Region IRES Promotes Translation by the Simplest Possible Initiation Mechanism. Cell Rep. 2020 12 08; 33(10):108476. PMID: 33296660.
      View in: PubMed
    15. Vicens Q. Special Issue: Frontiers in RNA Structure. Molecules. 2020 Oct 21; 25(20). PMID: 33096601.
      View in: PubMed
    16. Jones RA, Steckelberg AL, Vicens Q, Szucs MJ, Akiyama BM, Kieft JS. Different tertiary interactions create the same important 3D features in a distinct flavivirus xrRNA. RNA. 2021 01; 27(1):54-65. PMID: 33004436.
      View in: PubMed
    17. Szucs MJ, Nichols PJ, Jones RA, Vicens Q, Kieft JS. A New Subclass of Exoribonuclease-Resistant RNA Found in Multiple Genera of Flaviviridae. mBio. 2020 09 29; 11(5). PMID: 32994331.
      View in: PubMed
    18. 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 12; 26(12):1767-1776. PMID: 32848042.
      View in: PubMed
    19. Vicens, Q. Kim, Y. Harrowfield, J. Jacques Vicens: an obituary. J Incl Phenom Macrocycl Chem. 2020; 98:123-125.
      View Publication
    20. Vicens Q, Coumoul X, Souciet JL. A forum where french-speaking faculty can exchange research on teaching. Biochem Mol Biol Educ. 2019 09; 47(5):599-606. PMID: 31141270.
      View in: PubMed
    21. Steckelberg AL, Vicens Q, Kieft JS. Exoribonuclease-Resistant RNAs Exist within both Coding and Noncoding Subgenomic RNAs. mBio. 2018 12 18; 9(6). PMID: 30563900.
      View in: PubMed
    22. Vicens Q, Kieft JS, Rissland OS. Revisiting the Closed-Loop Model and the Nature of mRNA 5'-3' Communication. Mol Cell. 2018 12 06; 72(5):805-812. PMID: 30526871.
      View in: PubMed
    23. Vicens Q, Mondrag?n E, Reyes FE, Coish P, Aristoff P, Berman J, Kaur H, Kells KW, Wickens P, Wilson J, Gadwood RC, Schostarez HJ, Suto RK, Blount KF, Batey RT. Structure-Activity Relationship of Flavin Analogues That Target the Flavin Mononucleotide Riboswitch. ACS Chem Biol. 2018 10 19; 13(10):2908-2919. PMID: 30107111.
      View in: PubMed
    24. D'Ascenzo L, Vicens Q, Auffinger P. Identification of receptors for UNCG and GNRA Z-turns and their occurrence in rRNA. Nucleic Acids Res. 2018 09 06; 46(15):7989-7997. PMID: 29986118.
      View in: PubMed
    25. Brito Querido J, Mancera-Mart?nez E, Vicens Q, Bochler A, Chicher J, Simonetti A, Hashem Y. The cryo-EM Structure of a Novel 40S Kinetoplastid-Specific Ribosomal Protein. Structure. 2017 12 05; 25(12):1785-1794.e3. PMID: 29107485.
      View in: PubMed
    26. Gross L, Vicens Q, Einhorn E, Noireterre A, Schaeffer L, Kuhn L, Imler JL, Eriani G, Meignin C, Martin F. The IRES5'UTR of the dicistrovirus cricket paralysis virus is a type III IRES containing an essential pseudoknot structure. Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 Sep 06; 45(15):8993-9004. PMID: 28911115.
      View in: PubMed
    27. Khusainov I, Vicens Q, Ayupov R, Usachev K, Myasnikov A, Simonetti A, Validov S, Kieffer B, Yusupova G, Yusupov M, Hashem Y. Structures and dynamics of hibernating ribosomes from Staphylococcus aureus mediated by intermolecular interactions of HPF. EMBO J. 2017 07 14; 36(14):2073-2087. PMID: 28645916.
      View in: PubMed
    28. D'Ascenzo L, Leonarski F, Vicens Q, Auffinger P. Revisiting GNRA and UNCG folds: U-turns versus Z-turns in RNA hairpin loops. RNA. 2017 03; 23(3):259-269. PMID: 27999116.
      View in: PubMed
    29. Khusainov I, Vicens Q, Bochler A, Grosse F, Myasnikov A, M?n?tret JF, Chicher J, Marzi S, Romby P, Yusupova G, Yusupov M, Hashem Y. Structure of the 70S ribosome from human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 01 25; 45(2):1026. PMID: 28123039.
      View in: PubMed
    30. Khusainov I, Vicens Q, Bochler A, Grosse F, Myasnikov A, M?n?tret JF, Chicher J, Marzi S, Romby P, Yusupova G, Yusupov M, Hashem Y. Structure of the 70S ribosome from human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Nucleic Acids Res. 2016 12 01; 44(21):10491-10504. PMID: 27906650.
      View in: PubMed
    31. Martin F, M?n?tret JF, Simonetti A, Myasnikov AG, Vicens Q, Prongidi-Fix L, Natchiar SK, Klaholz BP, Eriani G. Ribosomal 18S rRNA base pairs with mRNA during eukaryotic translation initiation. Nat Commun. 2016 08 24; 7:12622. PMID: 27554013.
      View in: PubMed
    32. D'Ascenzo L, Leonarski F, Vicens Q, Auffinger P. 'Z-DNA like' fragments in RNA: a recurring structural motif with implications for folding, RNA/protein recognition and immune response. Nucleic Acids Res. 2016 07 08; 44(12):5944-56. PMID: 27151194.
      View in: PubMed
    33. Vicens Q, Westhof E. Biogenesis of Circular RNAs. Cell. 2014 Sep 25; 159(1):13-14. PMID: 25259915.
      View in: PubMed
    34. Vicens Q, Mondrag?n E, Batey RT. Molecular sensing by the aptamer domain of the FMN riboswitch: a general model for ligand binding by conformational selection. Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 Oct; 39(19):8586-98. PMID: 21745821.
      View in: PubMed
    35. Shi J, Wood WB, Martin JM, Guild NA, Vicens Q, Knight JK. A diagnostic assessment for introductory molecular and cell biology. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2010; 9(4):453-61. PMID: 21123692.
      View in: PubMed
    36. Vicens Q, Gooding AR, Duarte LF, Batey RT. Preparation of group I introns for biochemical studies and crystallization assays by native affinity purification. PLoS One. 2009 Aug 27; 4(8):e6740. PMID: 19710925.
      View in: PubMed
    37. Vicens Q, Bourne PE. Ten simple rules to combine teaching and research. PLoS Comput Biol. 2009 Apr; 5(4):e1000358. PMID: 19390598.
      View in: PubMed
    38. Vicens Q, Cech TR. A natural ribozyme with 3',5' RNA ligase activity. Nat Chem Biol. 2009 Feb; 5(2):97-9. PMID: 19125157.
      View in: PubMed
    39. Vicens Q, Paukstelis PJ, Westhof E, Lambowitz AM, Cech TR. Toward predicting self-splicing and protein-facilitated splicing of group I introns. RNA. 2008 Oct; 14(10):2013-29. PMID: 18768647.
      View in: PubMed
    40. Vicens Q, Allen MA, Gilbert SD, Reznik B, Gooding AR, Batey RT. The Cech Symposium: a celebration of 25 years of ribozymes, 10 years of TERT, and 60 years of Tom. RNA. 2008 Mar; 14(3):397-403. PMID: 18203922.
      View in: PubMed
    41. Laederach A, Das R, Vicens Q, Pearlman SM, Brenowitz M, Herschlag D, Altman RB. Semiautomated and rapid quantification of nucleic acid footprinting and structure mapping experiments. Nat Protoc. 2008; 3(9):1395-401. PMID: 18772866.
      View in: PubMed
    42. Vicens Q, Bourne PE. Ten simple rules for a successful collaboration. PLoS Comput Biol. 2007 Mar 30; 3(3):e44. PMID: 17397252.
      View in: PubMed
    43. Vicens Q, Gooding AR, Laederach A, Cech TR. Local RNA structural changes induced by crystallization are revealed by SHAPE. RNA. 2007 Apr; 13(4):536-48. PMID: 17299128.
      View in: PubMed
    44. Vicens Q, Cech TR. Atomic level architecture of group I introns revealed. Trends Biochem Sci. 2006 Jan; 31(1):41-51. PMID: 16356725.
      View in: PubMed
    45. Fran?ois B, Russell RJ, Murray JB, Aboul-ela F, Masquida B, Vicens Q, Westhof E. Crystal structures of complexes between aminoglycosides and decoding A site oligonucleotides: role of the number of rings and positive charges in the specific binding leading to miscoding. Nucleic Acids Res. 2005; 33(17):5677-90. PMID: 16214802.
      View in: PubMed
    46. Pfister P, Hobbie S, Vicens Q, B?ttger EC, Westhof E. The molecular basis for A-site mutations conferring aminoglycoside resistance: relationship between ribosomal susceptibility and X-ray crystal structures. Chembiochem. 2003 Oct 06; 4(10):1078-88. PMID: 14523926.
      View in: PubMed
    47. Vicens Q, Westhof E. RNA as a drug target: the case of aminoglycosides. Chembiochem. 2003 Oct 06; 4(10):1018-23. PMID: 14523919.
      View in: PubMed
    48. Vicens Q, Westhof E. Molecular recognition of aminoglycoside antibiotics by ribosomal RNA and resistance enzymes: an analysis of x-ray crystal structures. Biopolymers. 2003 Sep; 70(1):42-57. PMID: 12925992.
      View in: PubMed
    49. Vicens Q, Westhof E. Crystal structure of geneticin bound to a bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA A site oligonucleotide. J Mol Biol. 2003 Feb 28; 326(4):1175-88. PMID: 12589761.
      View in: PubMed
    50. Vicens Q, Westhof E. Crystal structure of a complex between the aminoglycoside tobramycin and an oligonucleotide containing the ribosomal decoding a site. Chem Biol. 2002 Jun; 9(6):747-55. PMID: 12079787.
      View in: PubMed
    51. Walter F, Vicens Q, Westhof E. Aminoglycoside-RNA interactions. Curr Opin Chem Biol. 1999 Dec; 3(6):694-704. PMID: 10600721.
      View in: PubMed
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