Project description
The role of small RNAs in genome stability
Small RNAs such as microRNAs are known to play a central role in the regulation of gene expression. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the sRNAUR project aims to explore whether small RNAs and particularly piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) regulated DNA copy number in Drosophila. Evidence so far indicates that piRNAs protect the germline genome by facilitating heterochromatin formation at repetitive DNA regions. The project will investigate whether piRNAs regulate the amount of centromeric DNA and they influence how traits are inherited. By using advanced sequencing and imaging techniques, sRNAUR is expected to uncover new insights into how small RNAs help maintain genome stability.
Objective
Small RNA-mediated gene regulation and DNA replication are fundamental genome-regulatory pathways essential for cellular life, organismal development, and disease prevention. While small RNA pathways are known to sequence-specifically regulate DNA copy number in some unicellular animals, such connections have yet to be found in multicellular animals. With this project, I will investigate and mechanistically characterize such a potential connection in the Drosophila animal model system.
Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), a class of animal small RNAs, safeguard the germline genome against repetitive DNA proliferation by guiding repressive heterochromatin formation at target loci. In Drosophila melanogaster ovarian nurse cells, heterochromatic (peri)centromeric DNA repeats undergo selective local suppression of DNA replication thus lowering their relative copy number. Interestingly, abundant piRNAs able to target to these 'underreplicated' regions have been found, yet the potential functional interactions between small RNA genome defense and DNA replication remain unexplored. With this project, I will bridge this gap by investigating the role of satellite piRNAs in Drosophila melanogaster, focusing on the interplay between regulated DNA replication and small RNA genome defense. Two interconnected hypotheses will be examined: (1) piRNA-directed heterochromatin formation regulates centromeric DNA copy number, and (2) piRNA-regulated heterochromatin sinks alter epigenetic inheritance. To do so, I will apply advanced sequencing- and imaging-based methods for DNA copy number quantification and leverage the powerful Drosophila genetics to uncover underlying molecular mechanisms.
In sum, my investigation of small RNA-based regulation of DNA replication holds the promise to reveal a new paradigm in animal genome regulation and to provide deeper insights into the mechanisms regulating genome stability and the role of piRNAs in maintaining it.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering satellite technology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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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.
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
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.