New tools to study the dynamics of RNA and RNP distribution in neuronal cells (B11)

在第二个资助期，我们能够证明前miR181a是由DICER根据神经元的局部突触活动进行局部处理的。这项工作首次证明，miRNAs可以由树突等偏远细胞区域的细胞外信号(如神经递质)产生。在即将到来的资金期，我们现在希望充分了解这一监管体系--特别是它的时空方面。为此，我们将为这一监管系统的关键参与者设计和应用定量超分辨率成像探头。在该项目的第二部分中，我们将研究新发现的神经元树突中活性3‘-UTRmRNA缩短的过程。我们将尝试用光控制这一过程，并在外部刺激下实时可视化。

In the 2nd funding period, we were able to show that pre-miR181a is processed locally by Dicer upon local synaptic activity in neurons. This work demonstrated for the first time that miRNAs can be generated by extracellular signals (like neurotransmitters) in remote cellular regions like dendrites. In the upcoming funding period, we now want to fully understand this regulatory system – especially its spatio-temporal aspects. To this end we will design and apply probes for the quantitative super-resolution imaging of the key players of this regulatory system. In a second part of the project we will investigate a newly discovered process of active 3’-UTR shortening of mRNA in neuronal dendrites. We will try to control this process with light and visualize it in real-time upon external stimulation.