Silencing RNAs: organisers and coordinators of complexity in eukaryotic organisms

Objective

A recently discovered layer of gene regulation in eukaryotic organisms employs small regulatory RNAs (miRNAs and siRNAs). These RNAs are 20-28 nucleotides long and are produced by Dicer ribonucleases acting on double-stranded RNA precursors. Together with an effector protein complex, they scan for complementary RNA or DNA so that expression of these targeted molecules is silenced at the transcriptional or posttranscriptional levels. These short RNAs influence gene expression during growth and development and initiate epigenetic changes to DNA and chromatin. SIROCCO will characterize the full complement of miRNAs and siRNAs in animals and plants. Using bioinformatics, genomics, biochemistry, cell biology and genetics, the sortium members will reveal how these RNAs are produced and processed, how they are transported and how they target specific genes and RNAs for silencing. SIROCCO will investigate the miRNA and siRNA profiles associated with development, with phenotypic divergence within populations, and with diseased states including cancer. The functional genomics of silencing RNAs will be addressed by up- or down-regulation of miRNA and siRNA species. There will also be an assessment of miRNA and siRNA regulatory networks and their interaction with other cellular trol mechanisms.
The outputs of SIROCCO will include databases of silencing RNA sequence and function in several organisms, new technologies for detection and manipulation of these RNAs, and information that will allow siRNA and miRNA profiles to be used as molecular markers and diagnostic methods for natural biological variation including the perturbations associated with disease. SIROCCO will also identify potential targets of disease therapy amongst the components of the small RNA silencing systems.
Finally, insights generated in SIROCCO will improve the specificity with which small RNAs can be employed as therapeutic tools.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › biological sciences › genetics › RNA
• natural sciences › biological sciences › cell biology
• natural sciences › biological sciences › genetics › DNA

Programme(s)

• FP6-LIFESCIHEALTH - Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health: Thematic Priority 1 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006.

Topic(s)

• LSH-2005-1.1.5-2 - The biological role of small regulatory RNAs

Call for proposal

FP6-2005-LIFESCIHEALTH-6
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

IP - Integrated Project

Coordinator

THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Address

The Old Schools, Trinity Lane
Cambridge
United Kingdom

Participants (23)

AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER

Hungary

Address

Szent-gyorgyi Albert 4.
411 Godollo

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE

France

Address

3 Rue Michel Ange
Paris

NOVARTIS FORSCHUNGSSTIFTUNG, ZWEIGNIEDERLASSUNG FRIEDRICH MIESCHER INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

Switzerland

Address

Maulbeerstrasse 66
Basel

HUBRECHT LABORATORY / KNAW

Netherlands

Address

Uppsalalaan 8
85164 Utrecht

MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V.

Germany

Address

Hofgartenstrasse 8
Munchen

UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE

United Kingdom

Address

Nethergate
Dundee

UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA

United Kingdom

Address

Earlham Road
Norwich

EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY

Germany

Address

Meyerhofstrasse 1
Heidelberg

EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY

Germany

Address

Meyerhofstrasse 1
Heidelberg

UNIVERSITY OF ROME "LA SAPIENZA"

Italy

Address

P.le A. Moro 5
Roma

THE SAINSBURY LABORATORY

United Kingdom

Address

Norwich Research Park, Colney
Norwich

BIOGEM S.C.A R.L.

Italy

Address

Via Camporeale
Ariano Irpino

UNIVERSITY OF AARHUS

Denmark

Address

Nordre Ringgade 1
Aarhus C

JOHN INNES CENTRE

United Kingdom

Address

Norwich Research Park, Colney
Norwich

RLP AGROSCIENCE GMBH, ALPLANTA-INSTITUTE FOR PLANT RESEARCH

Germany

Address

Breitenweg 71
Neustadt

EXIQON A/S

Denmark

Address

Bygstubben 9
Vedbaek

TEMASEK LIFE SCIENCES LABORATORY

Singapore

Address

1 Research Link, National University Of Singapore
Na

CEINGE BIOTECNOLOGIE AVANZATE SCARL

Italy

Address

Via Communale Margherita 482
Napoli

INTERNA TECHNOLOGIES B.V.

Netherlands

Address

Prof. Bronkhorstlaan 10-Xi
Bilthoven

OÜ QURETEC

Estonia

Address

Ülikooli 6A
Tartu

EIDGENÖSSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZÜRICH

Switzerland

Address

Rämistrasse 101
Zürich

BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES INSTITUTES

Singapore

Address

20 Biopolis Way, #07-01 Centros
Singapore

CENTRE DE REGULACIO GENOMICA

Spain

Address

Passeig Maritim, 37-49
Barcelona