Coordination project

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Research of the past years has shown that post-transcriptional mechanisms have profound effects on gene expression. These mechanisms always regulate protein synthesis, either directly by affecting the rate of translation, or indirectly, by affecting the half-life or localization of mRNA. At all stages of their life, mRNAs interact with trans-acting factors, including proteins and various non-coding RNA, to serve their functions in gene expression. Because there are many mRNA-interacting factors and each mRNA is the blueprint of a particular protein, the resulting ribonucleoprotein particles (mRNPs) are unique in their composition. This gives rise to the mRNP code concept, which implies that specific sets of proteins, non-coding RNAs and other molecules bind to individual mRNAs and control their fate and function in every cell. The compositions of mRNPs as a bulk entity has been studied in some detail and several RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and their interaction sites on mRNA have been identified. However, insight into how the mRNP code manifests itself on individual transcripts and is read by the cell has remained limited. This initiative aims to bring together researchers from disciplines as diverse as systems biology, biochemistry, structural biology and bioinformatics to develop and apply methods allowing insight into the composition of mRNPs, how they are assembled and remodeled and how they function in specific cellular settings. To decipher the mRNP code, our overarching goal, we propose to combine data of individual disciplines and projects and subject them to a systematic computational analysis. This will enable the recognition of general principles and patterns of gene regulation by components of the mRNP. In the coordination project of this SPP, we apply for structural measures such as meetings, technical workshops and central facilities enabling the efficient cooperation of researchers of individual groups.