Elucidating the post-transcriptional regulation of mast cell proteases

肥大细胞(Mast cell，MC)是一种免疫细胞，可以抵御病原体，但可能会引发有害的炎症。MC的功能是由预先形成并储存在颗粒中的特定蛋白水解酶介导的。这些蛋白水解酶有独特的调控机制，但人们对此知之甚少。该项目的目的是使用一套新的分子工具和转基因小鼠来识别转录后调控这些蛋白质的生产和储存的关键区域。该项目旨在确定RNA结合蛋白、microRNAs和其他也调节它们的新因素。这有望阐明MC蛋白水解酶的转录后调控机制。

Mast cells (MCs) are immune cells that protect against pathogens but may induce deleterious inflammation. MC function is mediated by specific proteases that are pre-formed and stored in granules. These proteases have unique yet poorly understood mechanisms of regulation. The aim of the project is to use a novel suite of molecular tools and genetically modified mice to identify the critical regions of transcripts that post-transcriptionally regulate the production and storage of these proteins. The project aims to identify the RNA binding proteins, microRNAs and other novel factors that also regulate them. This is expected to elucidate the post-transcriptional mechanisms of regulation of MC proteases.