Liberal Arts and Sciences
Harris Lab
Led by Michael Harris · Chemistry
What we study
The Harris Lab studies how RNA molecules help enzymes work and how enzymes recognize specific RNA sequences. They use high‑throughput enzyme tests, fast reaction measurements, and spectroscopy, and partner with structural, computational, and medicinal chemistry experts.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Bacteria & microbes
- Coding helps
- Project
- 1
- Papers
- 3
Current projects
Investigating Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeting the RNase P Enzyme from Pathogenic Bacteria
The lab looks for new antibiotic compounds that block a bacterial RNA enzyme called RNase P. The student designs chemical changes to a lead compound and tests how those changes affect binding and inhibition.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 9
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- The specificity landscape of bacterial ribonuclease P
2024 · Journal of Biological Chemistry
Mapping which RNA sequences bacterial RNase P prefers to bind and cut.
- A minimal RNA substrate with dual fluorescent probes enables rapid kinetics and provides insight into bacterial RNase P active site interactions
2024 · RSC Chemical Biology
Developing a tiny, fluorescently labeled RNA to quickly measure how bacterial RNase P interacts with its target.
Show 1 more papersShow fewer
- Alternative substrate kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp15 endonuclease reveals a specificity landscape dominated by RNA structure
2024 · Nucleic Acids Research
Examining how the SARS‑CoV‑2 Nsp15 enzyme cuts RNA to understand how RNA shape influences enzyme specificity.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
Michael Harris hasn't set up this page yet. Their UF Scholars profile lists their publications.