{"id":2,"date":"2019-08-21T15:37:30","date_gmt":"2019-08-21T19:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/bae-lab\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-03-11T14:28:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:28:38","slug":"sample-page","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-2\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-2-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-2-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_black-studio-tinymce widget_black_studio_tinymce panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div class=\"textwidget\"><h2><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Welcome to the Vargas-Rodriguez Lab<\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2024\/08\/RESEARCH-SUMMARY.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2024\/08\/RESEARCH-SUMMARY-1024x515.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"322\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-582 size-large\" srcset=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2024\/08\/RESEARCH-SUMMARY-1024x515.png 1024w, https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2024\/08\/RESEARCH-SUMMARY-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2024\/08\/RESEARCH-SUMMARY-768x386.png 768w, https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2024\/08\/RESEARCH-SUMMARY-1536x773.png 1536w, https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2024\/08\/RESEARCH-SUMMARY-2048x1030.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our research seeks to understand the underlying mechanisms that control the translation of mRNAs into proteins and how dysregulation of protein synthesis contributes to disease. We focus on transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), essential and universally conserved translation factors. We apply diverse methods to investigate how aaRSs and tRNAs mediate the regulation of protein synthesis. By leveraging this knowledge, we aim to identify pathways for developing new therapeutics. For more details, visit our Research page.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to our commitment to rigorous and innovative research, we strive to create a collegial and inclusive environment wherein our team trainees are supported and empowered to accomplish their career goals.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-2-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_metaslider_widget panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-2-0-0-1\" ><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Latest Publications<\/h3><div id=\"metaslider-id-298\" style=\"max-width: 1176px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-80-0 ml-slider-pro-2-36-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-298 ml-slider ms-theme-simply-dark has-thumb-nav\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"Slideshow\" aria-label=\"New Slideshow\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_298\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_298\" class=\"flexslider\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2025\/08\/GRAPHICAL-ABSTRACT_v2-e1776347714424-160x100.png\" style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-311 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"slide-311\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35466371\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2025\/08\/GRAPHICAL-ABSTRACT_v2-e1776347714424-1176x430.png\" height=\"430\" width=\"1176\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-298 slide-311\" title=\"Felix NAR 2022\" \/><\/a><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\"><div>Mechanistic and evolutionary insights into a family of aminoacyl-tRNA deacylases that protects against canavanine toxicity<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2024\/11\/Graphical-Abstract_5-2-e1776347540274-160x100.png\" style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-310 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"slide-310\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/39558163\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Efficient suppression of premature termination codons with alanine by engineered chimeric pyrrolysine tRNAs\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2024\/11\/Graphical-Abstract_5-2-e1776347540274-1176x430.png\" height=\"430\" width=\"1176\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-298 slide-310\" title=\"FIGURE 2\" \/><\/a><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\"><div class=\"heading-title\">Efficient suppression of premature termination codons with alanine by engineered chimeric pyrrolysine tRNAs<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2025\/06\/gkaf532figgra1-160x100.jpeg\" style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-322 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"slide-322\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/doi\/10.1073\/pnas.2321700121\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/288\/2025\/06\/gkaf532figgra1-1176x430.jpeg\" height=\"430\" width=\"1176\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-298 slide-322\" title=\"FIGURE 1\" \/><\/a><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\"><div>An engineered glutamic acid tRNA for efficient suppression of pathogenic nonsense mutations<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-2-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-empty\" ><\/div><div id=\"pgc-2-0-2\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-2-0-2-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_simple-social-icons simple-social-icons panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div id=\"simple-social-icons-210002\" class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-2-0-2-0\" ><ul class=\"alignleft\"><li class=\"ssi-bluesky\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/vargasrodriguezlab.bsky.social\" ><svg role=\"img\" class=\"social-bluesky\" aria-labelledby=\"social-bluesky-210002\"><title id=\"social-bluesky-210002\">Bluesky<\/title><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-social-icons\/symbol-defs.svg#social-bluesky\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a><\/li><li class=\"ssi-twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/OSENVARO\" ><svg role=\"img\" class=\"social-twitter\" aria-labelledby=\"social-twitter-210002\"><title id=\"social-twitter-210002\">Twitter<\/title><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-social-icons\/symbol-defs.svg#social-twitter\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to the Vargas-Rodriguez Lab Our research seeks to understand the underlying mechanisms that control the translation of mRNAs into proteins and how dysregulation of protein synthesis contributes to disease. We focus on transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), essential and universally conserved translation factors. We apply diverse methods to investigate how aaRSs and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":260,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"page-blank.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-30 17:58:50","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2"}],"version-history":[{"count":73,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":676,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions\/676"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/vargas-rodriguez-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}