Award details

The role of RNA structures in plant response to temperature

Reference	BBS/E/J/000CA564
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Yiliang Ding
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	155,520
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	07/08/2014
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	31 months

Abstract

Previous studies on RNA structure have mainly relied on in vitro synthesized RNAs or in silico predictions, neither of which reflect the natural situation in vivo. I have established the first platform to measure RNA structures in vivo at both the genome-wide scale and for targeted low abundance mRNAs. This platform allows us to study global RNA structural changes, as well as targeted individual mRNAs, under a variety of conditions, including cold and heat stress. This proposed study aims to elucidate the role of RNA structure in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in response to different temperatures. Firstly, in vivo RNA structural mapping will be undertaken in Arabidopsis thaliana under different temperature regimes. By global comparison between different temperatures, I will identify potential plant specific RNA thermometers (RNA regions within the 5'UTR that show structural shifts in response to temperature). Moreover, together with previous studies on polyribosome association during heat stress, I will determine how the global RNA structural changes correlate with translational efficiency. Additionally, I will explore the role of RNA structure during RNA maturation under different temperature regimes. This genome-wide analysis will provide many RNA candidates for further study. Individual plant specific RNA thermometers will be identified and characterized. I will mutate essential nucleotides required for sensing temperature and assess their corresponding biological function via transgenic assays. Tertiary contacts and conformational dynamics of the RNA thermometers will be assayed using Single-Molecule FRET. Lastly, I will develop a user-friendly web server to analyze, predict and visualize in vivo RNA structures under different temperatures in Arabidopsis. In summary, this proposed research will reveal the function of RNA structure in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in response to differences in temperature.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Plant Science, Structural Biology
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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