RNA biology and RNP complexes (RNA)

Presentation

Coordinators : Béatrice Clouet D'Orval and Anthony Henras

The research teams of the CBI RNA Biology Program (PICS RNA) explore various aspects of genome organization and expression, which rely on the synthesis and function of a wide variety of ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) containing coding and non-coding RNA molecules. These teams develop a wide range of methodological approaches (molecular and cellular biology, genetics, biochemistry, genome editing, NGS-based approaches, light and electron microscopy) to investigate the assembly and function of RNPs and associated-processing pathways in a variety of model organisms (bacteria, archaea, yeast, zebrafish, mammalian cells, mouse). These teams largely benefit from the technological facilities hosted at the CBI, in particular the imaging facilities (LITC and METi), the NGS data analysis facility (BigA) and the animal facilities.

The RNA Biology teams are more specifically interested in the following topics:

• Ribosome biogenesis and function including rDNA transcription by RNA polymerase I, pre-ribosome assembly and maturation, pre-ribosome structure, regulation of ribosome synthesis by signaling pathways and translation;
• The molecular and physiological relevance of mammalian small noncoding RNAs such as snoRNAs and microRNAs, the 7SK RNA and mitochondrial tRNAs;
• The molecular machineries and enzymes involved in RNA maturation, processing and decay pathways in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes;
• The function on long and small non-coding RNAs in the regulation of chromatin organization and dynamics in mammalian cells;
• Diverse aspects of the etiology of cancers and rare human diseases such as ribosomopathies or the Prader-Willi syndrome.

The scientific animation organized within the RNA Biology Program involves monthly internal seminars where each team has the opportunity to present its ongoing research and discuss the results in front of an expert audience. External seminars are also organized during which national and international scientists relevant to the different topics are invited to share their research with the CBI community.