Characterising genes involved in microRNA degradation in Arabidopsis

拟南芥中参与 microRNA 降解的基因特征

• 批准号: 2238912
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of East Anglia
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2238912
• 关键词: Characterising; genes; involved; microRNA; degradation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules regulating the expression of protein coding genes by targeting mRNAs. Since they play key roles in development and in responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses, it is important that miRNAs are expressed at the right time and place. Therefore there must be a mechanism to degrade miRNAs (miRNA turnover) and this mechanism itself must be carefully regulated to ensure that miRNAs are not present when their function is not required. However, we know very little about this mechanism and its regulation. The project team will carry out a mutant screen to identify genes involved in miRNA turnover. The screening assay relies on a GFP sensor, which is targeted by a miRNA. Expression of the miRNA is induced by germinating seeds on a special media. After changing the media the miRNA transcription is switched off and the existing miRNA molecules are degraded, leading to green fluorescence recovery in the seedlings. The project will screen for lines exhibiting faster or slower GFP recovery. After validation of the mutant phenotype the mutant genes will be identified by next generation sequencing. Identifying genes involved in miRNA turnover will open up a new field in the RNA silencing area. Understanding the function of those genes and how miRNA turnover is regulated will impact on all aspects of plant biology but also on biomedicine as siRNAs are potential therapeutics. The project will run in a vibrant and dynamic research group including wet lab researchers and bioinformaticians.

microRNA（miRNAs）是一类非编码RNA小分子，通过靶向mRNA调控蛋白质编码基因的表达。由于它们在发育以及对生物和非生物胁迫的响应中起着关键作用，因此miRNA在正确的时间和地点表达是很重要的。因此，必须有一种降解miRNA的机制（miRNA周转），这种机制本身必须仔细调节，以确保当不需要它们的功能时，miRNA不存在。然而，我们对这种机制及其调控知之甚少。该项目团队将进行突变体筛选，以确定参与miRNA周转的基因。筛选测定依赖于GFP传感器，其被miRNA靶向。通过在特殊培养基上萌发种子来诱导miRNA的表达。更换培养基后，miRNA转录被关闭，现有的miRNA分子被降解，导致幼苗中的绿色荧光恢复。该项目将筛选表现出更快或更慢的GFP恢复的品系。突变体表型验证后，将通过下一代测序鉴定突变体基因。识别参与miRNA周转的基因将为RNA沉默领域开辟一个新的领域。了解这些基因的功能以及如何调节miRNA的周转将影响植物生物学的各个方面，而且也会影响生物医学，因为siRNAs是潜在的治疗方法。该项目将在一个充满活力和活力的研究小组中运行，包括湿实验室研究人员和生物信息学家。