Project description
Elucidating the formation mechanism of RNA triple helices
Long non-coding RNAs make up a large part of the human transcriptome. These RNA molecules interact with chromatin to regulate gene expression through forming triple helices. Despite extensive research in vitro, the underlying mechanisms for triplex formation remain unknown. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the triloci-seq project is working on a novel next-generation sequencing technique to decipher the triplex code in vivo. The project's success hinges on the availability of mammalian genomes that can harbour hundreds of thousands of putative high-affinity triplex target sites, and on oligonucleotides containing mixed bases. Together these resources should allow scientists to overcome the greatest obstacle in triplex formation studies, namely the need to match a target site specifically with its triplex-forming oligo.
Objective
Recent technological advances revealed that there are many long non (protein)-coding RNA molecules (lncRNA) transcribed in the genome, many of whom regulate gene expression. However, it remains unclear how lncRNA molecule can interact directly with chromatin to regulate gene expression. One possibility that has been raised is via the formation of triple-helices. The potential for the formation of triple helices exists in any nucleic acid chain via an interaction called Hoogsteen base-pairing. However, unlike the genetic code or even Watson-Creek base-pairing, the triplex code or sequences which can function as triplex target sites and triplex-forming oligos is poorly understood. To decipher the triplex code in vivo, I propose a novel research approach based on next generation sequencing that I call Triloc-seq (in vivo). The feasibility this research plan relies on two crucial resources: first, mammalian genomes which can harbor as many as hundreds of thousands of putative high-affinity triplex target sites (TTSs), and second mixed-base oligo synthesis technology. Together these resources will allow us to over-come the greatest obstacle in triplex study, the need to match specifically a target site with its triplx forming oligo (TFO). To study the triple-helix code, we will transfect mammalian cells with a TFO libraries, and use click chemistry to join the TFO to its target site. We will then use previous TFO-TTS data obtained in vitro and multiple advanced bioinformatic approaches to extract the genomic TTSs. Finally, to prove that triplex interaction can be functional in vivo, we will design several applications that will test this functionality. In all cases we will design a cassette of known TTS target sites and position it upstream of a minimal promoter. The TTS cassette will be targeted by natural lncRNAs containing matching TFO segments, synthetic TFO-VP64 hybrids synthesized in vitro, and fluorescently labelled TFOs to confirm TTS-TFO functionality.
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 biochemistry biomolecules nucleic acids
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- 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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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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.
32000 Haifa
Israel
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.