Objective
Genome-wide transcription maps of different model species [1-5] reveal an unforeseen number of transcribed DNA segments lacking protein-coding potential [1, 2, 4, 5]. These non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are frequently expressed in the brain [6] and, although generally acknowledged as functionally relevant, the biological role of most long ncRNAs remains unclear mainly due to the lack of prediction tools and testable hypotheses. Recent work in the host institution indicates that some brain-expressed ncRNAs regulate the transcription of adjacent protein-coding genes thus providing a criterion to target long ncRNA for further characterization (Ponjavic, J. et al submitted). We propose to compile and analyze a catalog of human long ncRNAs and use it to understand when and how these transcripts emerged during evolution. Using a combination of in silico and in vitro experiments we will identify and functionally characterize long ncRNAs in the human genome, and test the recent hypothesis that some of these transcripts are involved in the transcriptional regulation of their adjacent protein-coding genes. We will particularly focus on transcripts that are specific to primates, as these are more likely to contribute to recently emerged features of the human brain including their relative increase in brain size and complexity. The proposed identification and functional characterization of young brain-expressed ncRNAs is timely and combines the applicant’s expertises in protein-coding gene evolution and the computational and ncRNA competences available in the host institution.
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 zoology mammalogy primatology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy astrophysics dark matter
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA transcriptomes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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.
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.
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.
FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008
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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.
Coordinator
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
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.