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Elucidating in-situ small molecule-RNA interactions by proximal reverse transcription-based sequencing

Objective

RNA is vital for cellular processes that include transcription, translation, and gene expression, making it an attractive drug target. However, deciphering the selective interaction between small molecules and RNA remains challenging due to RNA's dynamic structure and limited chemical functionality. Although FDA-approved drugs like Evrysdi have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of RNA binding small molecules, precise and reliable methods for targeting the interactions remain underdeveloped. This project aims to develop a Small Molecule-Assisted RNA Targeting and Reverse Transcription (SMART-RT) method to address this important challenge. The primary objective of SMART-RT is to create an in-situ interaction map of small molecules that interact with RNA or RNA-associated proteins (RBPs) in live cells. This innovative method will use RNA/RBP-binding small molecules to induce proximal reverse transcription (RT), enabling precise and sensitive mapping of RNA sequences and their interactions in their native cellular environment through downstream sequencing. By overcoming the limitations of current methods, SMART-RT will offer a detailed map of RNA/RBP interactions with small molecules, providing new insights and opportunities for the targeting of RNA biology and facilitating the discovery of novel therapeutics. This multidisciplinary project combines chemical biology, molecular biology, and medicinal chemistry to map RNA/RBP-small molecule interactions, using cutting-edge biotechnology for scientific exploration. It leverages my expertise in biochemistry and medicinal chemistry, providing extensive RNA technology training and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations. Aligned with MSCA’s goals of promoting innovation and knowledge transfer, the project will advance scientific discovery and technological development. Awarded MSCA Fellow will boost my research independence and equip me as group leader in biotechnology, enabling significant contributions to the field.

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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.

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Coordinator

THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Net EU contribution
€ 276 187,92
Address
TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS
CB2 1TN Cambridge
United Kingdom

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Region
East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data
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