Understanding The Role Of Circular RNAs In Neuronal Biology Using RNA-targeting CRISPR/Cas9
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$398,097.00
Summary
The regulation of gene expression through a process known as RNA splicing has been shown to be at the heart of a number of processes required for brain development, memory and learning, and is often dysregulated in a number of neurological diseases. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recently shown to be a relatively abundant class of spliced RNA that are specifically enriched in brain tissue. In this project, I aim to understand the roles of circRNAs in neuronal development.
DBHS Protein RNA Interactions In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$748,073.00
Summary
In cells involved in cancer, the interactions of DBHS proteins with each other, and with nucleic acids (eg RNA) are different to those in healthy cells. Only once we understand how DBHS proteins interact with some important RNA molecules, and how these interactions affect cell biology, can we begin to open up new pathways for therapy. This proposal aims at understanding and explaining this complex aspect of biology.
Mechanisms And Patterns Of Post-Transcriptional Gene Control
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$707,370.00
Summary
Genetic information resides in the DNA of our genome; however, to use this information it must be transcribed into chemically related RNA molecules, collectively known as the transcriptome. While different body cells carry the same genome, they differ widely in their transcriptome composition. To understand how cells properly utilise their transcriptomes we will characterise the marks and binding partners found on RNA in the context of cardiac and cancer biology.
Do Transcription Factor-RNA Interactions Represent A New Mechanism Of Gene Regulation?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$704,242.00
Summary
The aim of this proposal is to investigate the mechanisms through which genes are switched on and off. We hypothesise that transcription factors, a set of proteins that contacts DNA to regulate genes, can also interact with a separate class of molecules known as RNA. An understanding of how genes are switched on and off is central to devising strategies for fighting many diseases in a rational way. Our work will have implications for biotechnology and gene therapy.
Structural And Functional Studies On RNA Nuclear Retention Mediated By Paraspeckles: A Novel Gene Regulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,978.00
Summary
Dynamic interactions between proteins and nucleic acids are essential process in gene regulation, where aberrant regulation leads to various diseases including cancers. The project aims to examine the interactions between paraspeckle proteins and nucleic acid molecules via determination of the structures of protein-nucleic acid complexes at the atomic level. The results will provide a better understanding of a recently discovered gene regulation mechanism and a basis for new gene therapy.
Mechanisms Of Gene Regulation - Structure, Function And Design
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,209.00
Summary
The human genome contains at least 20000 genes. The activity of these genes must be tightly controlled throughout an individual’s life and problems with the regulation of genes lie at the heart of many common and serious diseases, including most forms of cancer. My program of research is focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying gene regulation and on the design of new reagents that could be used to manipulate the activity of genes that behave aberrantly in disease states.
Characterisation Of TIA Proteins In RNA Recognition And Stress Granule Formation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,966.00
Summary
Cells in our body need to be able to respond to stresses such as heat, hypoxia, chemical stress or infection. In this project we investigate the specialized TIA proteins that have the job of protecting RNA in stressed cells. We will investigate the way TIA proteins recognize particular mRNA and form temporary protective clusters. By better understanding this process we will gain insight into the way in which cells are susceptible to damage in diseases including neurodegenerative disease.
Molecular Insights Into Long Noncoding RNA-protein Complexes: Important Gene Regulators In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$388,927.00
Summary
Cancer cells turn good genes off and bad ones on: but how do they do this? Recent breakthroughs suggest that noncoding RNA, produced from so-called ‘junk’ DNA, is important. One such noncoding RNA forms paraspeckles, a novel component of the cell machinery. Here, we will pick apart the way paraspeckles are organised and function, to develop them as a prototype for designing anti-cancer treatments against noncoding RNAs.