Arabidopsis 2010: Transcription and Processing Requirements for Noncoding Transcripts Near SiRNA Loci in Arabidopsis

在过去的十年中，对植物、动物和真菌转录本的全基因组图谱揭示了基因组中普遍存在的转录，以及大量非编码转录本的存在，这些转录本不编码蛋白质产物。越来越多的证据表明，核非编码RNA在调节基因表达或基因组稳定性方面发挥着重要作用。然而，核非编码转录本的转录、加工和降解的潜在机制几乎完全未知。该项目旨在通过高通量测序系统地识别核非编码RNA，并研究控制此类非编码转录子集的生物发生和加工的机制，这些转录子参与转录基因沉默以确保基因组的稳定性。该项目是一项长期努力的一部分，目的是充分了解RNA在基因和基因组调控中的作用。更广泛的影响：这个项目将阐明植物非编码RNA的景观和生物发生需求，从而为科学界剖析以前被低估的基因和基因组调控机制奠定基础。该项目将通过生物学家和计算机科学家之间的合作搭建学科之间的桥梁，培养生物学博士后研究员和研究生，使他们精通生物信息学，并为包括计算机科学专业在内的本科生提供生物学研究机会。

In the past decade, genome-wide profiling of transcripts in plants, animals, and fungi have revealed pervasive transcription in the genome and the presence of multitudes of noncoding transcripts, which do not encode protein products. Increasing evidence points to an essential role of nuclear noncoding RNAs in the regulation of gene expression or genome stability. However, the mechanisms underlying the transcription, processing, and degradation of nuclear noncoding transcripts are almost completely unknown. This project aims to systematically identify nuclear noncoding RNAs by high-throughput sequencing, and to study the mechanisms governing the biogenesis and processing of a subset of such noncoding transcripts, the ones that participate in transcriptional gene silencing to ensure genome stability. The project is part of a long-term effort towards the full understanding of the roles of RNAs in the regulation of genes and genomes. Broader impacts: This project will illuminate the landscape and biogenesis requirements of plant noncoding RNAs, and thus set the foundation for the scientific community to dissect previously under-appreciated mechanisms of gene and genome regulation. The project will bridge disciplines through collaboration between biologists and computer scientists, train postdoctoral fellows and graduate students in biology to become well versed in bioinformatics, and provide research opportunities in biology to undergraduate students including computer science students.