Project description
Functional significance of mRNA localisation in digestive epithelial cells
Asymmetric subcellular mRNA distribution has been observed in a variety of polarised cells and organisms. RNA polarisation at the beginning of life determines the morphogen gradients necessary for embryo patterning. How the transcript sorting machinery works and how it maintains RNA segregation in the cytoplasm is still unknown. The EU-funded RNAloc project will combine RNA microscopy and subcellular proximity proteomics to study the functional contribution of mRNA localisation in digestive epithelia. The innovative toolkit will enable the spatial mapping of RNA and proteins, allowing the identification of the subcellular space and the biological significance of this fundamental process in adult epithelia.
Objective
Asymmetric subcellular mRNA distributions have been observed in a variety of polar cell types and organisms. RNA polarization is instrumental at the beginning of life and determines the morphogen gradients needed for embryo patterning. In highly polar neurons, subcellular transcript localization and translation are thought to enhance cellular efficiency and timely responses to extrinsic cues. However, the functional consequence of mRNA localization has, in most cases, not been elucidated. We have shown that a large fraction of an epithelial transcriptome is localized, yet the role(s) of mRNA localization in adult tissue homeostasis and function are unknown. Moreover, we still do not know how the transcript sorting machinery works, and we lack insights into the molecular composition of the membrane-less compartments that may maintain RNA segregation in the cytoplasm.
We will address these gaps by combining RNA microscopy and subcellular proximity proteomics to study the functional contribution of RNA localization in digestive epithelia. Our project will comprehensively map the subcellular space across three adult epithelial tissues – liver, jejunum, and colon. To elucidate the mechanisms that mediate sequence-specific mRNA transport and maintain localization, we will develop a system to tether a construct for proximity proteomics to localized RNAs. We will functionally test the contribution of RNA localization to tissue homeostasis and disease development by disrupting the localizing elements and machinery.
Our novel toolkit will enable the spatial mapping of RNA and proteins in parallel, allowing us to annotate the subcellular space and subsequently probe the biological significance of this fundamental process in adult epithelia. This novel technology can be extended to the subcellular study of all epithelia and tissues in general; it will ultimately lead to a more comprehensive understanding of tissue function in homeostasis and disease.
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 proteins proteomics
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology pathophysiology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine embryology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
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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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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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.
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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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) ERC-2020-STG
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8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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