Project description
Decoding the dynamics of RNA structures
RNA is implicated in key cellular processes such as gene expression regulation, splicing, and translation control, with its dynamic secondary structures adapting in response to specific stimuli. Despite their critical role, the study of RNA conformation dynamics in cells has been limited. The ERC-funded RNAStrEnD project aims to explore how RNA structures and their dynamic changes affect gene regulation and cell phenotype. Researchers will investigate how environmental cues and RNA modifications influence these structural dynamics, shedding light on the mechanism of action of RNAs, with important consequences for gene regulation and cellular function.
Objective
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a jack-of-all-trades. It orchestrates and contributes to a multitude of essential cellular processes, both under physiological and pathological conditions. Among these, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, splicing, and translation control.
Many of the functions of RNA rely on its ability to fold into stable secondary structures. However, RNA structures are far from being static. Indeed, for a given RNA, multiple alternative structural conformations can coexist as part of a heterogeneous and dynamic ensemble. Crucial to the regulatory functions of RNA structures is their ability to dynamically redistribute the relative abundance of specific conformations within the ensemble, in response to environmental cues. Despite its ascertained importance, the study of RNA structural dynamics in living cells has largely remained elusive.
The goal of this ambitious proposal is to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanistic aspects underlying RNA structural dynamics in living cells, and thereby to comprehend the regulation and mechanism of action of RNAs. In other words: how are changes in the structure of an RNA triggered, and how do these changes reflect on the cell’s phenotype? By combining cutting-edge experimental and computational methods, many of which developed in my lab, my team will: (i) explore how RNA secondary structure ensembles dynamically change in response to environmental cues; (ii) investigate how RNA post-transcriptional modifications and editing contribute to and control RNA secondary structure ensemble dynamics; (iii) characterize RNA secondary structure ensemble dynamics at transcription, and their contribution to splicing regulation.
By dissecting the role of RNA secondary structure ensemble dynamics in fine-tuning gene expression, the pioneering research here proposed will fill an important gap in our understanding of the mechanisms of gene regulation in cells.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
9712CP Groningen
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.