World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Ronald R. Breaker

Ronald R. Breaker

D-Index & Metrics

Chemistry

D-Index
102
Citations
41579
World Ranking
1150
National Ranking
457

Genetics

D-Index
117
Citations
49321
World Ranking
427
National Ranking
224

Molecular Biology

D-Index
117
Citations
49321
World Ranking
289
National Ranking
173

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2013 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 2004 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 1998 - Hellman Fellow

Overview

Ronald R. Breaker is affiliated with Yale University in the United States. Their primary field of research lies within Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular Biology, with a focus on Molecular Biology and Genetics as key subfields. The work contributed by this scientist spans a range of advanced topics in molecular and genetic research.

The main topics of their research include:

  • RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
  • Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
  • RNA modifications and cancer
  • Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
  • Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
  • Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
  • Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques

Their contributions have been published extensively in several scientific venues, with frequent appearances in:

  • RNA
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • Journal of Biological Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • RNA Biology

Among recent significant publications are:

  • "Discovering riboswitches: the past and the future," 2022, Trends in Biochemical Sciences
  • "The Biochemical Landscape of Riboswitch Ligands," 2022, Biochemistry
  • "Riboswitches," 2023, Current Biology
  • "Biochemical Validation of a Fourth Guanidine Riboswitch Class in Bacteria," 2020, Biochemistry
  • "Exploiting natural riboswitches for aptamer engineering and validation," 2023, Nucleic Acids Research

Frequent research collaborators include Kumari Kavita, Adam Roth, Michael G. Mohsen, Aparaajita Balaji, and Diane Yu. These coauthors have contributed jointly to several studies, reflecting a collaborative research environment in related scientific topics.

Awards received by Ronald R. Breaker include:

  • Member of the National Academy of Sciences, 2013
  • Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2004
  • Hellman Fellow, 1998

Best Publications

  • A DNA enzyme that cleaves RNA

    Ronald R. Breaker;Gerald F. Joyce

  • Thiamine derivatives bind messenger RNAs directly to regulate bacterial gene expression

    Wade Winkler;Ali Nahvi;Ronald R. Breaker

  • Control of gene expression by a natural metabolite-responsive ribozyme.

    Wade C. Winkler;Ali Nahvi;Adam Roth;Jennifer A. Collins

  • Gene regulation by riboswitches.

    Maumita Mandal;Ronald R. Breaker

  • Genetic Control by a Metabolite Binding mRNA

    Ali Nahvi;Narasimhan Sudarsan;Margaret S Ebert;Xiang Zou

  • Importance of the Debye screening length on nanowire field effect transistor sensors.

    Eric Stern;Robin Wagner;Fred J. Sigworth;Ronald Breaker

  • Riboswitches control fundamental biochemical pathways in Bacillus subtilis and other bacteria

    Maumita Mandal;Benjamin Boese;Jeffrey E Barrick;Wade C Winkler

  • REGULATION OF BACTERIAL GENE EXPRESSION BY RIBOSWITCHES

    Wade C. Winkler;Ronald R. Breaker

  • Riboswitches in Eubacteria Sense the Second Messenger Cyclic Di-GMP

    N. Sudarsan;E. R. Lee;Z. Weinberg;R. H. Moy

  • An mRNA structure that controls gene expression by binding FMN

    Wade C. Winkler;Smadar Cohen-Chalamish;Ronald R. Breaker

  • Riboswitches and the RNA World

    Ronald R. Breaker

  • Riboswitches as versatile gene control elements.

    Brian J Tucker;Ronald R Breaker

  • Kinetics of RNA Degradation by Specific Base Catalysis of Transesterification Involving the 2‘-Hydroxyl Group

    Yingfu Li;Ronald R. Breaker

  • Structural Basis for Discriminative Regulation of Gene Expression by Adenine- and Guanine-Sensing mRNAs

    Alexander Serganov;Yu Ren Yuan;Olga Pikovskaya;Anna Polonskaia

  • Relationship between internucleotide linkage geometry and the stability of RNA

    Garrett A. Soukup;Ronald R. Breaker

  • A glycine-dependent riboswitch that uses cooperative binding to control gene expression.

    Maumita Mandal;Mark Lee;Jeffrey E. Barrick;Zasha Weinberg

  • Prospects for Riboswitch Discovery and Analysis

    Ronald R. Breaker

  • The structural and functional diversity of metabolite-binding riboswitches.

    Adam Roth;Ronald R. Breaker

  • A DNA enzyme with Mg(2+)-dependent RNA phosphoesterase activity.

    Ronald R. Breaker;Gerald F. Joyce

  • Adenine riboswitches and gene activation by disruption of a transcription terminator.

    Maumita Mandal;Ronald R Breaker

  • Gene Regulation by Riboswitches

    Ronald Ray Breaker

Frequent Co-Authors

Jeffrey E. Barrick
Jeffrey E. Barrick The University of Texas at Austin
Gerald F. Joyce
Gerald F. Joyce Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Walter L. Ruzzo
Walter L. Ruzzo University of Washington
Yingfu Li
Yingfu Li McMaster University
Zizhen Yao
Zizhen Yao Allen Institute for Brain Science
Scott A. Strobel
Scott A. Strobel Yale University
Robert T. Batey
Robert T. Batey University of Colorado Boulder
Dinshaw J. Patel
Dinshaw J. Patel Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Stephen J. Giovannoni
Stephen J. Giovannoni Oregon State University
Dmitry A. Rodionov
Dmitry A. Rodionov Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring molecular biology in the USA can open doors to diverse and rewarding career journeys. Many students interested in the life sciences also consider related online degrees, which are increasingly accessible and flexible.

For those seeking a fast-track approach to complement or specialize beyond molecular biology, pursuing an accelerated psychology degree online is a popular choice. Psychology provides valuable insights into human behavior and research methods that overlap with biology-focused careers.

If your interests include working with people facing mental health challenges, an online masters degree in mental health counseling may align with your aspirations. This pathway can lead to fulfilling roles in clinical or research settings.

Molecular biology graduates are also eligible for high paying jobs in forensic psychology, especially in roles that bridge biological sciences with criminal investigations and legal issues.

Those drawn to development and child health may consider pursuing an online child psychology degree to expand opportunities in education, healthcare, and research.

Whether your passion leads to research, healthcare, or counseling, these online degrees offer flexible pathways that can enhance or complement your training in molecular biology.

Best Scientists Citing Ronald R. Breaker

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles