Novel roles for ribonucleases and microRNAs in development and cancer Event
For more information regarding this event, please telephone Kim Lipscombe on 023807747 or email K.R.Lipscombe@soton.ac.uk .
Event details
A key aspect in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression is the cytoplasmic control of mRNA degradation. Since the abundance of any given RNA depends upon the rate that it is transcribed, versus the rate of specific degradation, the control of RNA stability is a key factor in the control of gene regulation. mRNAs stability is known to vary during development and also in response to environmental factors such as cell stress and pro-inflammatory stimuli.
The work of my lab focuses on pacman, a 5’–3’ cytoplasmic exoribonuclease which is extremely well conserved and is required during mRNA degradation, RNA interference, and degradation via microRNAs. Our work using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system has shown that mutations in the 5’ – 3’ exoribonuclease pacman result in a number of specific phenotypes including cleft thorax, dorsal closure defects and reduced male fertility. These results suggest that Pacman can specifically target particular mRNAs or microRNAs. Our recent data suggest that Pacman may control the growth of imaginal discs by regulating apoptosis. As well as this fundamental work on gene control during development, I will also discuss our recent work on the identification of microRNAs as biomarkers cancers such as myeloma and melanoma.
Speaker information
Dr Sarah Newbury ,Brighton and Sussex Medical School