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pre-miR181a在神经元的局部突触活动中被Dicer局部处理。这项工作首次证明了mirna可以由细胞外信号（如神经递质）在遥远的细胞区域（如树突）产生。在即将到来的融资期，我们现在想要充分了解这个监管体系，尤其是它的时空方面。为此，我们将设计并应用探针对该调控系统的关键参与者进行定量超分辨率成像。在项目的第二部分，我们将研究新发现的神经元树突中mRNA活性3 ' -UTR缩短的过程。我们将尝试用光来控制这个过程，并在外部刺激下实时可视化它。

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.