In eukaryotes, RNA molecules undergo a wide range of processes, including transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, editing, intracellular transport, translation, and degradation. These processes are finely regulated in functional units called ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, consisting of RNAs and RNA-binding proteins. Considering that RNP complexes are abundant in the cell and affect every aspect of RNA metabolism, not surprisingly, their dysregulation often leads to severe human diseases ranging from cancer and muscular atrophies to neurological disorders. The Lin lab is dedicated to gain mechanistic insight into RNA metabolism. The unifying principle in our work is the study of macromolecular assemblies as whole units of molecular function by direct visualization of their architecture, functional states, and regulatory interactions. To gain a molecular understanding of important RNP complexes, our lab uses state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and image analysis, as well as biochemical and biophysical assays.