U53MicroRNA subcellular localisation

MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNA molecules that are essential for the control of gene expression. In humans, hundreds of different microRNAs each target a particular set of genes. This regulation is crucial for normal development and frequently disrupted in disease. Despite much research, there are still many unanswered questions about how microRNAs regulate their targets. Interestingly, there is evidence that microRNAs located at different sites within the cell may function differently. This project will focus on miR-122, a very highly expressed liver-specific microRNA that has important functions in liver development and disease. We have evidence that miR-122 is localised both in the nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum, but do not know how this is mediated or how it affects miR-122 function. The mini-project will use a series of molecular and cell biology techniques such as fluorescence microscopy, cell fractionation, and qPCR to characterise the subcellular localisation of miR-122 and other liver miRNAs.