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The influence of non-coding RNA on chromatin structure in budding yeast

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000H247
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Jonathan Houseley
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	140,424
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	30/11/2009
End date	29/11/2014
Duration	59 months

Abstract

The last fifty years of biological research has focused on genes that encode proteins that perform biological functions. RNA, the primary product of a gene, was thought of as an intermediary, but recent studies show the majority of genes produce RNA which does not code for proteins (non-coding RNA or ncRNA). The aim of my research is to understand what this RNA does. Enzymes that modify DNA must be recruited to precise sites, for example to copy, cut and paste segments of the genome. This process, called recombination, is required to maintain and repair the genome, but must obviously be tightly controlled. Recombination is also vital during the production of sperm and eggs to mix parental genetic traits. Data I have obtained suggest RNA quality control proteins link ncRNAs to recombination. I suggest that ncRNA controls recombination by directing recombination enzymes to particular regions of DNA, a hypothesis that my research is designed to address. Other ncRNAs can influence protein coding genes, but few have been studied. I will analyse a class of these ncRNAs to find general principles for their action, which is important as gene therapy to target ncRNAs would increase the range of disorders that such therapies can tackle.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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