Regulation of gene expression by the maternal contribution of modified RNAs during embryonic development

Germline stem cells are essential for the survival of organisms by giving rise to the offspring. Gene expression changes within the germ cells can affect embryonic development and in some organisms such changes are transgenerationally inherited. RNA is at the centre of many gene regulatory processes. There are currently more than 150 diverse chemical modifications found on RNA and a greater number of proteins are required for their synthesis and recognition. Recent discoveries have shown that RNA modifications can be dynamically regulated and they have been implicated in embryonic development, longevity, neurological diseases and cancers in humans and in animal models.
The project aims to understand how RNA modification mediated gene expression changes affect early embryonic development. The maternal (oocytes) and paternal (sperm) contribution of gene regulation can directly affect early embryonic development. In C. elegans such intergenerational gene expression changes can further lead to transgenerational phenotypes. RNA modifications are known to control the stability and dynamics of RNA deposited on oocytes and sperm which in turn could contribute to embryonic developmental and transgenerational phenotypes. The project will combine powerful C. elegans genetics with CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis, RNA sequencing and microscopy.