Objective
The goal of this project is to investigate how mutations that affect RNA structure can be buffered in trans by RNA chaperones using a combination of experimental and computational approaches. The Warnecke lab (the host) recently showed that RNA chaperones, like their protein chaperone counterparts, can buffer the fitness effects of deleterious mutations in Escherichia coli (Rudan et al. 2015 eLife, 4:e04745). However, the rules governing mutation buffering at the RNA level remain poorly understood. Do RNA chaperones rescue misfolded RNA intermediates? Do they alleviate the effects of mutation that lead to excessively stable secondary structures? Which mutations are amenable to buffering and which are not? And does that presence of RNA chaperones render their substrate RNAs more evolvable? Here, I will evaluate the buffering capacity of a model RNA chaperone, the DEAD-box RNA helicase CYT-19, by exploring how it affects the mutational robustness of the Tetrahymena group I intron, whose self-splicing activity is dependent on its structure. Following systematic site-directed and random mutagenesis, I will assay differential splicing activity of the generated intron variants and compare results to predictions from RNA structural modelling. Importantly, I will assay activity both in the presence and in the absence of CYT-19 to identify mutations that are buffered by RNA chaperone activity. To further understand the structural impact of chaperone-dependent mutations, I will use in-cell SHAPE-Seq to determine the mutated intron structures. To my knowledge, this is the first quantitative assessment of mutational effects on RNA in the presence of an RNA chaperone. The expected outcome will improve our understanding of RNA robustness, and may reveal insights into making better RNA-based tools.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics nucleotides
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
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-EF-ST - Standard EF
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2016
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
SW7 2AZ LONDON
United Kingdom
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.