Pathway Maps of Transcription Factors

转录因子的通路图

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-06485
• 负责人: Reimand, Jüri
• 金额: $ 2.62万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=709662
• 关键词: Pathway; Maps; Transcription; Factors

Gene regulation is a process in cells that turns genes on and off at the right place and time. A special type of genes called transcription factors (TFs) carries out this process. TF proteins recognize genes in DNA and make them active or disabled. TFs are very important because all vital parts and activities of cells depend on exact sets of genes being active. However, there are thousands of TFs in humans and other organisms and we still do not know all the genes they regulate. Although scientists are collecting large amounts of information to understand TFs, the collected information is often incomplete and has biases and errors. Analysing many types of evidence about genes and TFs at the same time can overcome these limitations and lead to a wide range of new insights into TF function. My research program will create computer software to study different types of information that has been collected about TFs, genes and processes in cells. The goal of my work is to build large detailed maps of TFs and processes in cells of humans and other organisms, using statistics and machine learning to merge different types of evidence about gene regulation. These maps will show exactly which genes and cell activities are regulated by any of the known TFs, allowing us to better understand how many different processes in cells work. The maps will reveal new roles of TFs and allow us perform precise laboratory tests to validate these roles. The maps will also help us understand what makes humans unique and similar to other life forms at the cell level. Scientists will also be able to use TF maps to better link information in our genomes to our physical and mental features. The computer software created in this program will help scientists better re-use information that has been collected in earlier scientific projects, increasing the value of investments in science made by Canadian taxpayers. In the future, the tools developed through this program can be used in many fields. Importantly, the tools are general and can be applied to diverse organisms for which information about genes and TFs is available. For example, once we know how TFs regulate important cell activities in farm animals and crop plants, we can use this knowledge to improve agriculture. The maps will enable more precise, safe modifications of agriculturally important species to produce higher yield and to become more resistant to weather, parasites, and diseases. Once we understand gene regulation of pests and weeds, we will be able to produce more efficient and specific pesticide and herbicide poisons. Similarly, more comprehensive TF knowledge will allow us to specifically change gene regulation in tiny organisms to create safer and environmentally friendly ways of producing chemicals, cleaning up chemical waste, and monitoring air and water for pollution.

基因调控是细胞中的一个过程，它在正确的时间和地点打开和关闭基因。一种特殊类型的基因称为转录因子（TF）执行这一过程。TF蛋白识别DNA中的基因，使它们活跃或失活。TF非常重要，因为细胞的所有重要部分和活动都取决于活跃的基因组。然而，人类和其他生物体中有数千个TF，我们仍然不知道它们调节的所有基因。虽然科学家们正在收集大量的信息来了解TF，但收集的信息往往是不完整的，并且存在偏见和错误。同时分析有关基因和TF的多种证据可以克服这些限制，并对TF功能产生广泛的新见解。 我的研究计划将创建计算机软件来研究已经收集的关于TF，基因和细胞过程的不同类型的信息。我工作的目标是建立人类和其他生物细胞中TF和过程的大型详细地图，使用统计学和机器学习来合并有关基因调控的不同类型的证据。这些图谱将准确显示哪些基因和细胞活动受任何已知TF的调控，使我们能够更好地了解细胞中有多少不同的过程起作用。这些地图将揭示TF的新作用，并允许我们进行精确的实验室测试来验证这些作用。这些地图还将帮助我们了解是什么使人类在细胞水平上与其他生命形式独特和相似。科学家们还将能够使用TF图谱更好地将我们基因组中的信息与我们的身体和精神特征联系起来。 该计划中创建的计算机软件将帮助科学家更好地重新使用在早期科学项目中收集的信息，增加加拿大纳税人对科学的投资价值。在未来，通过这个程序开发的工具可以在许多领域使用。重要的是，这些工具是通用的，可以应用于不同的生物体的基因和TF的信息是可用的。例如，一旦我们知道转铁蛋白如何调节农场动物和作物中重要的细胞活动，我们就可以利用这些知识来改善农业。这些地图将使农业上重要的物种能够更精确，更安全地进行修改，以产生更高的产量，并对天气，寄生虫和疾病更具抵抗力。一旦我们了解了害虫和杂草的基因调控，我们将能够生产更有效和更具体的杀虫剂和除草剂毒药。同样，更全面的TF知识将使我们能够专门改变微小生物的基因调控，以创造更安全和环保的方式生产化学品，清理化学废物，监测空气和水的污染。