The role of RNA structures in plant response to temperature
Lead Research Organisation:
John Innes Centre
Department Name: Cell and Develop Biology
Abstract
Global warming has the potential to widely suppress agricultural yields. One of the effects of global warming is an increased occurrence of temperature extremes and these are particularly destructive of our crop plants. According to the global annual agriculture report, agricultural yields will drop by up to 20% by the year 2050 due to global climate change. Previous studies have also shown grain yield declines by 10% for each 1 degree increase. Thus, in order to avoid severe food crises caused by global warming, it is important to adapt our crop plants to withstand extreme temperature changes. My proposed research is to understand how plants respond to temperature extremes and how to regulate this response to make plants more adaptable to climate change.
Most previous scientific studies have focused on gene regulation at the DNA level, however, regulation at this level is neither particularly rapid, nor does it correlate well with protein levels, which are the key output for gene regulation. My proposed research is to explore how the regulation of gene expression occurs at the RNA level, which can be rapid and more directly correlated with protein levels. RNA, in contrast to DNA, is very flexible and more responsive to different cellular conditions, in particular varying temperature. For instance, RNA forms more base pairing structures under cold conditions, while maintaining single strandedness at higher temperatures. These changes in RNA structure will have differing effects on a range of processes that control protein levels, such as ribosome binding, RNA processing and RNA stability. By taking advantage of this flexibility in RNA structure, plants can adapt to different temperature conditions quickly and reversibly via changes in protein level. My proposed research is to explore RNA structures at specific temperatures to realize modalities of gene regulation controlled by shifts in RNA structure.
My previous work has developed a novel and powerful platform to measure in vivo RNA structures with high resolution over more than 10,000 genes. My proposed research is to compare the differences in global RNA structure under different temperature conditions. This will allow me to identify RNAs with different temperature-controlled structures that may directly regulate gene expression, putative RNA thermometers. My proposed research will open up a novel methodology for the study of gene regulation in plants. This methodology can also be applied to other abiotic stresses such as drought stress, mechanic stress, water stress, etc., as well as biotic stresses. A user-friendly web-based server of a corresponding bioinformatics toolkit will be established in my proposed research for analyzing, predicting and visualizing individual RNA structures of interest.
Most previous scientific studies have focused on gene regulation at the DNA level, however, regulation at this level is neither particularly rapid, nor does it correlate well with protein levels, which are the key output for gene regulation. My proposed research is to explore how the regulation of gene expression occurs at the RNA level, which can be rapid and more directly correlated with protein levels. RNA, in contrast to DNA, is very flexible and more responsive to different cellular conditions, in particular varying temperature. For instance, RNA forms more base pairing structures under cold conditions, while maintaining single strandedness at higher temperatures. These changes in RNA structure will have differing effects on a range of processes that control protein levels, such as ribosome binding, RNA processing and RNA stability. By taking advantage of this flexibility in RNA structure, plants can adapt to different temperature conditions quickly and reversibly via changes in protein level. My proposed research is to explore RNA structures at specific temperatures to realize modalities of gene regulation controlled by shifts in RNA structure.
My previous work has developed a novel and powerful platform to measure in vivo RNA structures with high resolution over more than 10,000 genes. My proposed research is to compare the differences in global RNA structure under different temperature conditions. This will allow me to identify RNAs with different temperature-controlled structures that may directly regulate gene expression, putative RNA thermometers. My proposed research will open up a novel methodology for the study of gene regulation in plants. This methodology can also be applied to other abiotic stresses such as drought stress, mechanic stress, water stress, etc., as well as biotic stresses. A user-friendly web-based server of a corresponding bioinformatics toolkit will be established in my proposed research for analyzing, predicting and visualizing individual RNA structures of interest.
Technical Summary
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.
Planned Impact
This proposed research will elucidate the role of RNA structure in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in response to different temperatures. I will take advantage of my novel and powerful platform established during my postdoctoral research to study global in vivo RNA structural changes, as well as targeted individual mRNAs, under a variety of conditions, including cold and heat stress. The knowledge obtained from this proposed research will provide a new gene regulatory mechanism in response to temperature, which will impact the development of novel strategic approaches to improve plant adaptation to climate change. Furthermore, this work will reveal the utility of the platform I have developed for the analysis of dynamic changes to RNA structure. This will likely have broad implications for many fields of research including the medical sciences.
One result from this work is potential intellectual property. Any potential IP generated from this proposed research will be assessed for patent protection. .The novel and transformative nature of the technology I have developed may well incur interest from the private sector. RNA structure is likely important in many different processes of eukaryotic cells, including human diseases. While I have no intention of establishing a private venture at this stage in my career, I believe that the platforms I have developed have potential for commercial enterprise.
Another result from this proposed research is a web-based server with detailed in vivo RNA structural information for thousands of mRNAs. This will raise a broad range of interests in the academic community and will impact the development of new collaborations as well as new research directions.
The proposed research opens up an entirely new field of study in plant sciences which provides both new methodologies and new scientific viewpoints. This new field may in the long term be applied to the study of other abiotic stresses such as drought stress, mechanical stress, water stress and biotic stresses. Therefore, this proposed research could benefit a broad range of plant disciplines with potential impacts on agricultural improvements.
I will engage in outreach activities such as participating in the Teacher-Scientist Network (TSN) and give public lectures on the role of RNA structures in response to stress. JIC has an excellent communications department that supports such public engagement activities.
One result from this work is potential intellectual property. Any potential IP generated from this proposed research will be assessed for patent protection. .The novel and transformative nature of the technology I have developed may well incur interest from the private sector. RNA structure is likely important in many different processes of eukaryotic cells, including human diseases. While I have no intention of establishing a private venture at this stage in my career, I believe that the platforms I have developed have potential for commercial enterprise.
Another result from this proposed research is a web-based server with detailed in vivo RNA structural information for thousands of mRNAs. This will raise a broad range of interests in the academic community and will impact the development of new collaborations as well as new research directions.
The proposed research opens up an entirely new field of study in plant sciences which provides both new methodologies and new scientific viewpoints. This new field may in the long term be applied to the study of other abiotic stresses such as drought stress, mechanical stress, water stress and biotic stresses. Therefore, this proposed research could benefit a broad range of plant disciplines with potential impacts on agricultural improvements.
I will engage in outreach activities such as participating in the Teacher-Scientist Network (TSN) and give public lectures on the role of RNA structures in response to stress. JIC has an excellent communications department that supports such public engagement activities.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Yiliang Ding (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Deng H
(2018)
Rice In Vivo RNA Structurome Reveals RNA Secondary Structure Conservation and Divergence in Plants.
in Molecular plant
Ding Y
(2018)
Emergence of vascular plants.
in Nature plants
Dixon LE
(2019)
VERNALIZATION1 controls developmental responses of winter wheat under high ambient temperatures.
in Development (Cambridge, England)
Duncan S
(2023)
Reference genes for quantitative Arabidopsis single molecule RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization.
in Journal of experimental botany
Li Q
(2023)
Enzymes in RNA Science and Biotechnology Part A
Liu Z
(2021)
In vivo nuclear RNA structurome reveals RNA-structure regulation of mRNA processing in plants.
in Genome biology
Lulla V
(2021)
Targeting the Conserved Stem Loop 2 Motif in the SARS-CoV-2 Genome.
in Journal of virology
| Description | The manuscript on the discovery of RNA G-quadruplex has been published in Genome Biology (Yang et al., Genome Biology, 2020) where we determined hundreds of RNA G-quadruplex structures strongly folded in the model species Arabidopsis and in rice by developing a new method called SHALiPE-seq. This study provides the first direct evidence of RNA G-quadruplex formation in living eukaryotic cells. For the first time, we have answered the longstanding question about whether RNA G-quadruplex structures exist in living eukaryotic cells. We have also revealed that RNA G-quadruplex is capable to trigger RNA-driven phase separation, providing the first evidence of RNA structure-driven phase separation in plants (Zhang et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2019). We further revealed that cold temperature strongly triggers the folding of guanine-rich elements into RNA G-quadruplex in Arabidopsis. Cold-triggered RNA G-quadruplex promotes higher stability of mRNAs, subsequently represses plant growth. Cold-adapted plants distributed in higher-latitude regions show selective enrichment of guanine-rich elements in their transcriptomes. Our findings reveal an RNA-based system of cold sensing through the temperature-dependent switch of RNA G-quadruplex formation in plants (Manuscript in preparation). The manuscript on the discovery of in vivo RNA structures regulating mRNA processing in plants has been published in Genome Biology (Liu et al., Genome Biology, 2021). We developed a new method to probing RNA structure in nuclei, termed Nuc-SHAPE-Structure-seq. In particular, this study revealed a two-nucleotide single-stranded RNA structure feature upstream of 5' splice sites regulating splicing. Additionally, we has also developed the CAP-STRUCTURE-seq method to capture the intact mRNA structurome in plants (Yang et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2020). This approach revealed that miRNA target sites were not structurally accessible for miRNA-induced silencing complexes (miRISC) binding prior to cleavage in vivo. Instead, we found that the unfolding of the target site structure plays a key role in miRISC activity in vivo. We found that the single-strandedness of the two nucleotides immediately downstream of the target site, named Target Adjacent nucleotide Motif (TAM), can promote miRNA cleavage but not miRNA binding, thus decoupling target site binding from cleavage. |
| Exploitation Route | We have developed three new in vivo RNA structure probing methods: 1) SHALiPE-seq for probing RNA G-quadruplex 2) Nuc-SHAPE-Structure-seq for probing nuclear RNAs 3) CAP-STRUCTURE-seq for probing intact RNAs. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| URL | http://www.foldatlas.com |
| Description | (ultraRNAs) - A sweet solution: novel antiviral siRNAs to help rescue the sugar beet industry |
| Amount | € 150,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 966855 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 04/2021 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | Investigating the role of in vivo RNA structure in RNA degradation |
| Amount | € 1,480,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 680324 |
| Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 01/2016 |
| End | 01/2021 |
| Description | UK-US platform for the study of RNA structure in living cells |
| Amount | £49,383 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/N022572/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Title | FoldAtlas: a repository for genome-wide RNA structure probing data |
| Description | We have established FoldAtlas, the first repository and web interface for accessing raw and processed genome-scale RNA structure probing data across thousands of transcripts. FoldAtlas allows a researcher to easily locate, view, and retrieve the probing data for a given RNA molecule. For each transcript, we also provide in silico and in vivo secondary structure predictions for comparison. The structures are visualised as circle plots and structure topology diagrams in the web browser. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | A paper titled "FoldAtlas: a repository for genome-wide RNA structure probing data" describes this database and analysis pipeline for the in vivo RNA structure information in plant. |
| URL | http://www.foldatlas.com |
| Title | G4Atlas: a comprehensive transcriptome-wide G-quadruplex database |
| Description | RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) is a vital RNA tertiary structure motif that involves the base pairs on both Hoogsteen and Watson-Crick faces of guanines. rG4 is of great importance in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Experimental technologies have advanced to identify in vitro and in vivo rG4s across diverse transcriptomes. Building on these recent advances, here we present G4Atlas, the first transcriptome-wide G-quadruplex database, in which we have collated, classified, and visualized transcriptome rG4 experimental data, generated from rG4-seq, chemical profiling and ligand-binding methods. Our comprehensive database includes transcriptome-wide rG4s generated from 82 experimental treatments and 238 samples across ten species. In addition, we have also included RNA secondary structure prediction information across both experimentally identified and unidentified rG4s to enable users to display any potential competitive folding between rG4 and RNA secondary structures. As such, G4Atlas will enable users to explore the general functions of rG4s in diverse biological processes. In addition, G4Atlas lays the foundation for further data-driven deep learning algorithms to examine rG4 structural features. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) is a vital RNA tertiary structure motif that involves the base pairs on both Hoogsteen and Watson-Crick faces of guanines. rG4 is of great importance in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Experimental technologies have advanced to identify in vitro and in vivo rG4s across diverse transcriptomes. Building on these recent advances, here we present G4Atlas, the first transcriptome-wide G-quadruplex database, in which we have collated, classified, and visualized transcriptome rG4 experimental data, generated from rG4-seq, chemical profiling and ligand-binding methods. Our comprehensive database includes transcriptome-wide rG4s generated from 82 experimental treatments and 238 samples across ten species. In addition, we have also included RNA secondary structure prediction information across both experimentally identified and unidentified rG4s to enable users to display any potential competitive folding between rG4 and RNA secondary structures. As such, G4Atlas will enable users to explore the general functions of rG4s in diverse biological processes. In addition, G4Atlas lays the foundation for further data-driven deep learning algorithms to examine rG4 structural features. |
| URL | https://www.g4atlas.org |
| Description | UK-US platform collaborator |
| Organisation | Purdue University |
| Department | Department of Chemistry |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | UK-US platform for the study of RNA structure in living cells |
| Collaborator Contribution | The main scientific objectives: • To forge opportunities for direct communications and knowledge exchange between both experimental scientists and mathematicians/bioinformaticians. • To apply Structure-seq methodologies in yeast and other organisms. • To develop new methods to integrate RNA-protein interaction data with in vivo RNA structural information. • To establish a data-sharing pipeline between UK and USA labs. • To train students and post-docs in both wet-bench experiments and bioinformatics analysis through exchange visits. • To develop and strengthen UK-US collaborations on the functional study of RNA structure in gene regulation through workshops and Skype meetings. • To discover a broad impact of the regulatory role of RNA structure in RNA biology. 1) Prof. Sharon Aviran's lab develops statistical models and statistical inference methods for analysis of RNA structure and dynamics by combining experiments with statistical and biophysical principles. She previously introduced a novel approach to modeling and to automatically processing next-generation sequencing data from a new generation of multiplexed RNA structure mapping assays. This work pioneered the use of mathematical modelling and statistically sound analysis methodology for robust and efficient quantification of chemical mapping information, an approach that is now becoming a standard in the field. She received a K99/R00 award from NIH/NHGRI to pursue work on modelling and analysis of RNA structural dynamics. Prof. Aviran's lab and Dr. Ding's lab have initiated collaborative discussions to develop a novel platform that combines innovative computational and experimental methods. 2) Prof. Elizabeth Tran has established a strong reputation in RNA biology. She has determined the functions of RNA helicases in the regulation of RNA-protein complex that are critically important since DEAD-BOX proteins and regulatory cofactors have been linked to cancer (breast, colon, lung), neurodegenerative disorders, and viral replication (HIV). She has also studied the role of long non-coding RNAs in gene regulation. Prof. Aviran and Dr. Ding recently established informal collaborations with Prof. Tran's lab with initial suggestions on deep sequencing analysis and RNA structure probing techniques. 3) Dr. Zoë Waller's lab has substantial expertise in organic synthesis, biophysics, nucleic acid chemistry and molecular biology. Her lab has been studying one of the well-known structure motifs: i-Motif. She has extensive experience in studying the biophysics and structural dynamics and conformations of non-canonical nucleic acids. She has also generated small molecules to alter the formation of DNA/RNA structure formation; these have great potential in therapeutic and nanotechnology applications. Dr. Waller currently has a BBSRC-funded PhD position (2016) open to study the change of RNA structure motifs in response to stress. Dr. Ding is involved in this PhD program as co-supervisor. Both labs are currently looking for the global structural and biophysical features of RNA from high throughput deep sequencing data. 4) Dr. Yiliang Ding's lab has developed a novel and powerful platform, Structure-seq, to study RNA structure in vivo and across diverse species at the genome-wide scale. Her lab is currently developing new in vivo genome-wide platforms to detect RNA-protein interactions and to simultaneously improve in vivo RNA structure prediction. |
| Impact | The 1st Workshop Program UK-US platform for the study of RNA structure in living cells was from 8th Aug to 10th Aug 2016. It has 21 people from four labs attending this workshop to initiate collaborations. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | UK-US platform collaborator |
| Organisation | University of California, Davis |
| Department | Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | UK-US platform for the study of RNA structure in living cells |
| Collaborator Contribution | The main scientific objectives: • To forge opportunities for direct communications and knowledge exchange between both experimental scientists and mathematicians/bioinformaticians. • To apply Structure-seq methodologies in yeast and other organisms. • To develop new methods to integrate RNA-protein interaction data with in vivo RNA structural information. • To establish a data-sharing pipeline between UK and USA labs. • To train students and post-docs in both wet-bench experiments and bioinformatics analysis through exchange visits. • To develop and strengthen UK-US collaborations on the functional study of RNA structure in gene regulation through workshops and Skype meetings. • To discover a broad impact of the regulatory role of RNA structure in RNA biology. 1) Prof. Sharon Aviran's lab develops statistical models and statistical inference methods for analysis of RNA structure and dynamics by combining experiments with statistical and biophysical principles. She previously introduced a novel approach to modeling and to automatically processing next-generation sequencing data from a new generation of multiplexed RNA structure mapping assays. This work pioneered the use of mathematical modelling and statistically sound analysis methodology for robust and efficient quantification of chemical mapping information, an approach that is now becoming a standard in the field. She received a K99/R00 award from NIH/NHGRI to pursue work on modelling and analysis of RNA structural dynamics. Prof. Aviran's lab and Dr. Ding's lab have initiated collaborative discussions to develop a novel platform that combines innovative computational and experimental methods. 2) Prof. Elizabeth Tran has established a strong reputation in RNA biology. She has determined the functions of RNA helicases in the regulation of RNA-protein complex that are critically important since DEAD-BOX proteins and regulatory cofactors have been linked to cancer (breast, colon, lung), neurodegenerative disorders, and viral replication (HIV). She has also studied the role of long non-coding RNAs in gene regulation. Prof. Aviran and Dr. Ding recently established informal collaborations with Prof. Tran's lab with initial suggestions on deep sequencing analysis and RNA structure probing techniques. 3) Dr. Zoë Waller's lab has substantial expertise in organic synthesis, biophysics, nucleic acid chemistry and molecular biology. Her lab has been studying one of the well-known structure motifs: i-Motif. She has extensive experience in studying the biophysics and structural dynamics and conformations of non-canonical nucleic acids. She has also generated small molecules to alter the formation of DNA/RNA structure formation; these have great potential in therapeutic and nanotechnology applications. Dr. Waller currently has a BBSRC-funded PhD position (2016) open to study the change of RNA structure motifs in response to stress. Dr. Ding is involved in this PhD program as co-supervisor. Both labs are currently looking for the global structural and biophysical features of RNA from high throughput deep sequencing data. 4) Dr. Yiliang Ding's lab has developed a novel and powerful platform, Structure-seq, to study RNA structure in vivo and across diverse species at the genome-wide scale. Her lab is currently developing new in vivo genome-wide platforms to detect RNA-protein interactions and to simultaneously improve in vivo RNA structure prediction. |
| Impact | The 1st Workshop Program UK-US platform for the study of RNA structure in living cells was from 8th Aug to 10th Aug 2016. It has 21 people from four labs attending this workshop to initiate collaborations. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | UK-US platform collaborator |
| Organisation | University of East Anglia |
| Department | School of Environmental Sciences UEA |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | UK-US platform for the study of RNA structure in living cells |
| Collaborator Contribution | The main scientific objectives: • To forge opportunities for direct communications and knowledge exchange between both experimental scientists and mathematicians/bioinformaticians. • To apply Structure-seq methodologies in yeast and other organisms. • To develop new methods to integrate RNA-protein interaction data with in vivo RNA structural information. • To establish a data-sharing pipeline between UK and USA labs. • To train students and post-docs in both wet-bench experiments and bioinformatics analysis through exchange visits. • To develop and strengthen UK-US collaborations on the functional study of RNA structure in gene regulation through workshops and Skype meetings. • To discover a broad impact of the regulatory role of RNA structure in RNA biology. 1) Prof. Sharon Aviran's lab develops statistical models and statistical inference methods for analysis of RNA structure and dynamics by combining experiments with statistical and biophysical principles. She previously introduced a novel approach to modeling and to automatically processing next-generation sequencing data from a new generation of multiplexed RNA structure mapping assays. This work pioneered the use of mathematical modelling and statistically sound analysis methodology for robust and efficient quantification of chemical mapping information, an approach that is now becoming a standard in the field. She received a K99/R00 award from NIH/NHGRI to pursue work on modelling and analysis of RNA structural dynamics. Prof. Aviran's lab and Dr. Ding's lab have initiated collaborative discussions to develop a novel platform that combines innovative computational and experimental methods. 2) Prof. Elizabeth Tran has established a strong reputation in RNA biology. She has determined the functions of RNA helicases in the regulation of RNA-protein complex that are critically important since DEAD-BOX proteins and regulatory cofactors have been linked to cancer (breast, colon, lung), neurodegenerative disorders, and viral replication (HIV). She has also studied the role of long non-coding RNAs in gene regulation. Prof. Aviran and Dr. Ding recently established informal collaborations with Prof. Tran's lab with initial suggestions on deep sequencing analysis and RNA structure probing techniques. 3) Dr. Zoë Waller's lab has substantial expertise in organic synthesis, biophysics, nucleic acid chemistry and molecular biology. Her lab has been studying one of the well-known structure motifs: i-Motif. She has extensive experience in studying the biophysics and structural dynamics and conformations of non-canonical nucleic acids. She has also generated small molecules to alter the formation of DNA/RNA structure formation; these have great potential in therapeutic and nanotechnology applications. Dr. Waller currently has a BBSRC-funded PhD position (2016) open to study the change of RNA structure motifs in response to stress. Dr. Ding is involved in this PhD program as co-supervisor. Both labs are currently looking for the global structural and biophysical features of RNA from high throughput deep sequencing data. 4) Dr. Yiliang Ding's lab has developed a novel and powerful platform, Structure-seq, to study RNA structure in vivo and across diverse species at the genome-wide scale. Her lab is currently developing new in vivo genome-wide platforms to detect RNA-protein interactions and to simultaneously improve in vivo RNA structure prediction. |
| Impact | The 1st Workshop Program UK-US platform for the study of RNA structure in living cells was from 8th Aug to 10th Aug 2016. It has 21 people from four labs attending this workshop to initiate collaborations. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | The Plant RNA Structure Symposium 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Over 250 people attended for the Plant RNA Structure Symposium 2021. The 2021 Plant RNA Structure Symposium, will take place from Tuesday 7 September - Thursday 9 September. It will be hosted online and is being run by the John Innes Centre, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge RNA structure plays a central role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, such as RNA maturation, RNA stability, and translation. With the advance of newly developed RNA structure probing methods, the study of RNA structure has been revolutionarily transformed. Recent studies have revealed new insights into regulatory mechanisms of RNA biological processes in plants. Furthermore, the identifications of cis-regulatory RNA structure elements in response to temperature and salt stress improved our understanding of how plants adapt to a changing environment. Apart from these studies in mRNAs, new studies have determined the RNA structure features of different types of non-coding RNAs and discovered how non-coding RNAs function in plants. Additionally, some latest studies in crops have provided novel perceptions in RNA structure evolution and RNA structure-guided crop breeding. Our plant RNA structure symposium will gather these recent advances in understanding the functional role of RNA structure in plants. This symposium is sponsored by Frontiers in Plant Science and associated with a special research topic 'Plant RNA Structure' in Frontiers in Plant Science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/event/plant-rna-structure-symposium/ |
| Description | The RNA Structure Conference 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Over 500 participates attended for the RNA Structure Conference 2021. The organizers envision that this conference will be unique in many aspects, but in particular will be sharply focused on the state-of-the-art methods being developed to measure RNA structure in living systems and how the merge of chemical probing with transcriptomics has ushered in a new era of characterizing RNA function. In addition, we are aiming to highlight how RNA structure, and our understanding of RNA structure, is informing the design of small molecules that are poised to be next-generation medicines to treat disease. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |