The roles of long non-coding RNAs in neuronal function

目的：我的研究项目的主要目标是了解基因表达是如何控制的，并探索动态调节基因的生物学功能。我的短期目标集中在“活性依赖”基因表达程序的机制上，该程序调节神经元之间突触连接的结构可塑性。长链非编码RNA（longnon-codingRNA，lncRNA）是近年来发现的一类能够协调蛋白质和核酸相互作用的基因调控因子。许多lncRNA主要在大脑中表达，但对其功能知之甚少。该研究的目的是探讨lncRNA在神经元基因表达和活动依赖性结构可塑性调节中的作用。

Objective: The primary objective of my research program is to understand how gene expression is controlled, and to explore the biological functions of dynamically-regulated genes. My short-term aims are focused on the mechanisms governing the “activity-dependent” gene expression program, which regulates the structural plasticity of synaptic connections between neurons. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a newly appreciated class of gene regulatory factor that can coordinate interactions between proteins and nucleic acids. Many lncRNAs are expressed primarily in the brain, but little is known about their functions. The aim of the proposed research is to explore the roles of lncRNAs in the regulation of neuronal gene expression and activity-dependent structural plasticity.