Nils G Walter
Francis S Collins Collegiate Professor of Chemistry
Biophysics and Biological Chemistry
Professor of Chemistry
Professor of Biophysics
Program Associate
Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Professor of Biological Chemistry
[email protected]

Available to mentor

Nils G Walter
Professor
  • About
  • Links
  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
  • About

    The RNA and Single Molecule Analysis Group of Nils Walter - Vision:

    The Walter lab provides a welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where we leverage cross-disciplinary tools from chemical biology, analytical chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and bioinformatics to define and unleash the powers of RNA biology and DNA nanotechnology. RNA is a magical molecule that both likely started life and sustains it today. Over 75% of our genome encodes non-protein coding RNA molecules, compared with only <2% that encodes proteins. How this RNA machinery broadly guides cellular function – through the maintenance, processing and regulated expression of all genetic information – is still poorly understood. For an inspiring read on the prospects of RNA research, please check out this Paper. By comparison, DNA is better understood as the genetic blueprint of life, but recently its utility has dramatically expanded as a scaffold for nanodevices and nanorobots, heralding a modern materials science.

    We integrate powerful, cutting-edge, single molecule experimental and computational approaches to study the structure, dynamics and function of RNAs and DNA nanodevices outside and inside human cells. Our experimental approaches span from single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (“nanoscopy”) to transcriptomics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and big data analytics, providing students and postdocs with a uniquely qualifying knowledge base and skill set that they have leveraged into a wide range of careers in academia, industry and national labs. We even founded our very own successful biotech startup company pursuing single molecule analytical chemistry and molecular diagnostics of biomarkers of disease – entrepreneurial spirit is welcome!

    Finally, we are making single-molecule and RNA techniques more widely available to those who are not experts in these fields through the University of Michigan’s Single Molecule Analysis in Real Time (SMART) Center and the cross-disciplinary Center for RNA Biomedicine, both of which Nils founded and now directs.

    Please also check out some of our press releases in the sidebar and the News section, as well as our twitter account.

    Links
    Qualifications
    • Postdoctoral Fellow
      University of Vermont, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, 1999
    • Dr.-Ing.
      TU Darmstadt, Darmstadt, 1995
    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Rogel Cancer Center
    • Center Member
      Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
    Research Overview

    We integrate powerful, cutting-edge, single molecule experimental and computational approaches to study the structure, dynamics and function of RNAs and DNA nanodevices outside and inside human cells. Our experimental approaches span from single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (“nanoscopy”) to transcriptomics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and big data analytics, providing students and postdocs with a uniquely qualifying knowledge base and skill set that they have leveraged into a wide range of careers in academia, industry and national labs. We even founded our very own successful biotech startup company pursuing single molecule analytical chemistry and molecular diagnostics of biomarkers of disease – entrepreneurial spirit is welcome!

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Are non-protein coding RNAs junk or treasure?: An attempt to explain and reconcile opposing viewpoints of whether the human genome is mostly transcribed into non-functional or functional RNAs.
      Walter NG. Bioessays, 2024 Feb 13; e2300201 DOI:10.1002/bies.202300201
      PMID: 38351661
    • Preprint
      A nascent riboswitch helix orchestrates robust transcriptional regulation through signal integration
      Walter N, Chauvier A, Dandpat S, Romero R. Research Square, DOI:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3849447/v1
    • Preprint
      A nascent riboswitch helix orchestrates robust transcriptional regulation through signal integration
      Chauvier A, Dandpat S, Romero R, Walter NG. bioRxiv, DOI:10.1101/2024.01.23.576946
    • Journal Article
      Regulation of bacterial gene expression by non-coding RNA: It is all about time!
      Chauvier A, Walter NG. Cell Chem Biol, 2024 Jan 18; 31 (1): 71 - 85. DOI:10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.12.011
      PMID: 38211587
    • Journal Article
      Biomolecular condensates in kidney physiology and disease.
      Gao G, Sumrall ES, Pitchiaya S, Bitzer M, Alberti S, Walter NG. Nat Rev Nephrol, 2023 Dec; 19 (12): 756 - 770. DOI:10.1038/s41581-023-00767-0
      PMID: 37752323
    • Journal Article
      Single-molecule FRET observes opposing effects of urea and TMAO on structurally similar meso- and thermophilic riboswitch RNAs.
      Hou Q, Chatterjee S, Lund PE, Suddala KC, Walter NG. Nucleic Acids Res, 2023 Nov 10; 51 (20): 11345 - 11357. DOI:10.1093/nar/gkad866
      PMID: 37855661
    • Journal Article
      Critical Assessment of Condensate Boundaries in Dual-Color Single Particle Tracking.
      Gao G, Walter NG. J Phys Chem B, 2023 Sep 14; 127 (36): 7694 - 7707. DOI:10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c03776
      PMID: 37669232
    • Journal Article
      Spontaneous Confinement of mRNA Molecules at Biomolecular Condensate Boundaries.
      Perelman RT, Schmidt A, Khan U, Walter NG. Cells, 2023 Sep 11; 12 (18): DOI:10.3390/cells12182250
      PMID: 37759470