Skip to main content
European Commission logo
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
CORDIS Web 30th anniversary CORDIS Web 30th anniversary
Content archived on 2024-05-30

The origin and functional evolution of long non-coding RNAs

Objective

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a heterogeneous class of RNA molecules that function in a wide range of biological processes, including the inactivation of sex chromosomes, imprinting and the regulation of gene expression. Despite their obvious biological importance, lncRNAs are the least understood class of genomic transcripts. Little is known about how they originate, how they acquire and evolve regulatory capacity, and how they function. Not surprisingly then, little is also known about the role that lncRNAs have played in the evolution of lineage-specific mammalian traits.
This proposal combines molecular biology and evolutionary genetics tools to study the evolution and function of lncRNAs, and to evaluate their potential role in the specification of mammalian phenotypes. In this project I propose to generate a comprehensive and well-annotated set of mammalian long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) that – importantly – will include their regulatory regions. With this dataset, I aim to address the two main objectives of this proposal. Objective 1 is to identify the molecular mechanisms that generate novel lincRNAs, including how novel lincRNAs evolve their transcriptional regulation. By studying lncRNAs across 13 species that represent all major mammalian lineages, I will also investigate differences between lineages/species in the types of lncRNAs that they posses. Objective 2 is to identify networks of genes regulated by lincRNAs that underlie novel mammalian traits, and to investigate differences between species/lineages in these gene networks.
This proposal will significantly advance the scientific community’s understanding of lncRNAs, including how these molecules have contributed to the functional evolution of mammalian genomes.

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IIF
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITE DE LAUSANNE
EU contribution
€ 184 709,40
Address
QUARTIER UNIL CENTRE - BATIMENT UNICENTRE
1015 LAUSANNE
Switzerland

See on map

Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Annick Crevoisier (Ms.)
Links
Total cost
No data