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Katherine Borden: Profile Photo

Katherine Borden

Montreal, Quebec

Position: Professor

Organization: Northwestern Univesrity previously at University of Montreal

My lab’s work focusses on understanding the mechanisms and impact of dysregulated RNA metabolism in cancer. Our studies unearthed novel modes by which cancer cells hijack genetic information, in the form of messenger RNA, and demonstrated new mechanisms by which RNA maturation and RNA export influence cell physiology and support cancer growth. Our studies led to clinical trials targeting these processes in patients. My lab recently relocated from University of Montreal to Northwestern University.

Areas of Expertise:

+ RNA metabolism, eIF4E, acute myeloid leukaemia
+ molecular biology
+ biochemistry

Language(s):

+ English

My Work

What I do:

My lab’s work focusses on understanding the mechanisms and impact of dysregulated RNA metabolism in cancer. We study the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E as an exemplar. Our studies unearthed novel modes by which cancer cells hijack genetic information, in the form of messenger RNA, and demonstrated new mechanisms by which RNA maturation and RNA export influence cell physiology and support cancer growth. Our molecular snapshots elucidated new mechanisms for regulation and engagement of these steps. These findings drove first-in-class clinical trials demonstrating that targeting eIF4E and relevant RNA processing events represents a highly promising avenue for the development of novel therapeutics. These studies also revealed novel modes of drug resistance and showed these were targetable in patients.

Ask me about:

I specialize in RNA metabolism and am passionate in understanding how it can contribute and perhaps even drive cancers. This is important for developing new, more effective therapies. I am also passionate about identifying means to increase inclusivity and diversity in science and academia more generally.

Why me:

Our labs achievements have been recognized by several awards including the Stohlman Scholar award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society USA, 3 term Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Distinguished Scientist of the Canadian Society for Clinical Investigation, CSMB Canadian Science Publishing Senior Investigator Award and as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences amongst others. I have over 150 publications and given more than 160 invited lectures in four continents. For training, I received my PhD from Yale University in protein biophysics with Fred Richards and postdoctoral training in structural and cancer biology at The Crick Institute (formerly NIMR) and Cancer Research UK (formerly the Imperial Cancer Fund) in London.

Fun facts:

I love Star Trek, tennis and the outdoors.

About Me

Sector: Academia (Post Secondary)

English proficiency: Read, Write, Speak

French proficiency: Read, Write

Title: Professor

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Gender: Female

Demographic: European / White

Recent Publications

Title Year
eIF4E orchestrates mRNA processing, RNA export and translation to modify specific protein production2024
Abstract 272: Novel role for eIF4E in homing of acute myeloid leukemia cells2024
Medicinal Chemistry and NMR Driven Discovery of Novel UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A Inhibitors That Overcome Therapeutic Resistance in Cells2023
The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E unexpectedly acts in splicing thereby coupling mRNA processing with translation2023
XPO1 Enables Adaptive Regulation of mRNA Export Required for Genotoxic Stress Tolerance in Cancer Cells2023
Molecular targeting of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes in high-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia patients: a randomized phase II trial of vismodegib, ribavirin with or without decitabine2023
The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E reprograms alternative splicing2023
Cancer cells hijack RNA processing to rewrite the message2022
Unorthodox PCNA Binding by Chromatin Assembly Factor 12022
Identification and Characterization of the Interaction Between the Methyl-7-Guanosine Cap Maturation Enzyme RNMT and the Cap-Binding Protein eIF4E2022
Subcellular Fractionation Suitable for Studies of RNA and Protein Trafficking2022
The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E elevates steady-state m 7 G capping of coding and noncoding transcripts2020
Structural studies of the eIF4E–VPg complex reveal a direct competition for capped RNA: Implications for translation2019
Nuclear eIF4E Stimulates 3′-End Cleavage of Target RNAs2019
GLI1-Inducible Glucuronidation Targets a Broad Spectrum of Drugs2019
Targeting EIF4E signaling with ribavirin in infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia2018
Chemical shift assignment of the viral protein genome-linked (VPg) from potato virus Y2018
BRAF/MAPK and GSK3 signaling converges to control MITF nuclear export2018
Exportin-1 Connects Dynamic Transcription and Translation of Genotoxic Stress Genes in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients2017
The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E harnesses hyaluronan production to drive its malignant activity2017
A biochemical framework for eIF4E-dependent mRNA export and nuclear recycling of the export machinery2017
Ribavirin, an eIF4E Inhibitor, As a Potential Anti-Lymphoma Therapeutic – Preclinical and Early Clinical Data2016
The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E wears a “cap” for many occasions2016
Importin 8 mediates m 7 G cap-sensitive nuclear import of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E2016
Combinatorial targeting of nuclear export and translation of RNA inhibits aggressive B-cell lymphomas2015