We study the RNA structural biology using biophysical methods, including NMR spectroscopy, SAXS, X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy, to determine RNA three-dimensional structures or topological folds, understand RNA function, and provide insight into fundamental mechanisms of RNA biological functions. 

RNA function is coded in its three-dimensional structures and dynamics.  To characterize RNA in four-dimensional space, we have resorted to new technologies that allow us to study ever more challenging problems.  For this reason, our laboratory has developed Position-selective Labeling of RNA (PLOR) technology, which can be applied for structural biology studies, imaging and disease detection. We have also developed a new approach using X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) and time-resolved nanocrystallography to study RNA structures and dynamics.  Recently, we developed the algorithm to recapitulate the 3D topological structure of individual RNA molecules in solution from AFM topographic particle images, which makes it possible to study RNA conformational heterogeneity under physiologically relevant solution conditions, as opposed to in restricted or confined crystal lattices or under artificially high [Mg²⁺].